Minority Language Rights in the Russian Federation: The End of a Long Tradition?

Abstract

From 2016 there has been a significant shift away from special status for “national,” ethnic languages in the context of Russia’s asymmetric federation. First, the chapter presents Russia’s unusual federative, ethnic, and linguistic complexity. Second, developments in the Russian Empire and the USSR are sketched. Third, the consequences of the collapse of the USSR and the “parade of sovereignties” of 1990–1992 are traced. Fourth, the Constitution of 1993 and its rather radical provisions are introduced. Fifth, the effects of President Putin’s period in power since 2000 are scrutinized. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the dramatic events of the past few years and the state of affairs at the time of writing.

I am indebted to Tamara Borgoyakova, of the Khakas State University, Abakan, Russia, Institute of Humanities, and Sayano-Altay Turkology, for many of the Russian language references below, which appeared in our joint publication “Language Policy and Language Education in Russia,” Chapter 25 in the Encylopedia of Law and Language, Springer International Publishing AG, and to Mustafa Tuna and Michael Newcity of Duke University for inviting me with Sophie Roche of Heidelberg University to participate in the seminar “Preserving Culture at the Fringes in Authoritarian States” at Duke University on 15 February 2017, where a version of this chapter was presented and a rich discussion ensued.