Monolingualism and National Identity: Lessons from Europe

Abstract

Two centuries have passed since the idea of monolingual nationalism entered the history of Europe. Nevertheless, the nexus between monolingualism and nation seems far from being dismissed. This chapter investigates the nexus between language and national identity, by comparing France, Germany, Spain, and Switzerland and examining to what extent different national boundary configurations relate to attitudes towards migrants’ integration. The focus is on perceived criteria of national belonging, with particular reference to the language, among other prototypical national ‘markers’ (such as ancestry, religion, and respect for laws). The empirical investigation is based on survey data from the ISSP (International Social Survey Program), which was carried out in 2003 and 2013.