The european charter for regional or minority languages: conflict, resistance and change

For centuries regional and minority languages, and the speakers of these languages, experienced a political and economic process of marginalization that resulted in decline and in some cases the total loss of Europe's diversity. However, the Council of Europe and the European Union have created a new model embodied by the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, which seeks to radically alter the dominant pattern of discrimination and marginalization toward minority language speakers. This is surprising considering the overall lack of resources at the state level for minority language groups, and considering the salience of language issues. However, the continued development of European integration has had an unintended effect: it has fostered and provided support for national minority groups in Europe. In this sense, the European Language Charter represents but one visible policy victory for national minority groups and exemplifies a new normative and institutional environment.