Abstract
Increasing international mobility flows have presented both opportunities and challenges for social cohesion and integration in Europe. Language, as a tool for communication and a marker of identity, plays a pivotal role in ensuring equality of access to education, the labor market, and justice. However, many European states face difficulties in balancing the need for integration with the recognition of linguistic diversity, particularly concerning new minorities arising from migration flows. These challenges have underlined the urgent need for effective governance of linguistic diversity.
This paper explores the governance of linguistic diversity in the context of
integrating new minorities in Europe. It argues for expanding the scope of
minority rights — traditionally reserved for historical minorities — to
include new minorities. This approach addresses gaps in international
frameworks, particularly regarding identity and language rights, and fosters a
more inclusive diversity governance model. Recognizing and protecting
the linguistic rights of new minorities is essential to promoting cohesion
and belonging, reducing the risk of alienation and conflict, and avoiding
forced assimilation. The paper highlights the dual need for supporting
minority languages while maintaining proficiency in a common public
language to ensure state functionality and societal integration.
Using an interdisciplinary methodology, the paper combines legal and
linguistic approaches to analyse language policies for new minorities. It
examines three key areas — education, the labor market, and the judicial system
— demonstrating how language rights intersect with societal inclusion and
equity, and offering recommendations for balancing diversity and unity in
modern Europe.