Whether arising through conquest and colonization, immigration, enslavement, or the creation of a political state that ignores “natural” ethnic territories, linguistic minorities have existed at least since the dawn of history. Where there exist linguistic minorities, there also exist language conflicts and issues related to the rights of those minorities to use their languages freely and without prejudice.
In the 21st century, these ethnic and linguistic factors play an increasingly important role. These factors — including the number of languages, the distribution of language groups, the socio-political histories and hierarchies of different language groups — must be taken into account alongside the religious, ideological, economic, environmental, and resource bases of conflicts. This is especially true of long-lasting, apparently intractable “protracted social conflicts.” Ethnic and linguistic nationalism is today resurgent in the face of globalism and centuries’ old ethnolinguistic rivalries.
Understanding language conflict is vital for analysts and decision makers. ConflictAnalytiX believes there are compelling arguments and evidence for adding linguistic approaches, analyses, and methods to the research toolbox of analysts concerned with social conflict at all levels. ConflictAnalytiX offers such expertise to corporate, governmental, and non-governmental entities in making policy decisions about initiating, developing, or continuing activities in areas/locations around the world where elements of ethno-linguistic conflict exist.
Stanley Dubinsky
Professor of Linguistics, University of South Carolina
Harvey Starr
Dag Hammarskjold Professor in International Affairs Emeritus, University of South Carolina
Senior Consultants
Bruce Bueno de Mesquita
ANALYST
Julius Silver Professor of Politics, New York University and Senior Fellow Emeritus, Hoover Institution, Stanford University
Daniel L. Everett
AREA SPECIALIST – BRAZIL AND SOUTH AMERICA
Trustee Professor of Cognitive Sciences, Bentley University (Waltham, MA)
Project Consultants
PIA L. BERTUCCI
AREA SPECIALIST – ITALY AND THE MEDITERRANEAN
Italian Program Director, University of South Carolina
Michael Gavin
ANALYST
Associate Professor, Department of English Language and Literature, University of South Carolina
Carl Holtman
AREA SPECIALIST – TURKEY, MIDDLE EAST, RUSSIA, AND CIS
Managing Partner, Turca Solutions
Russell H. Kaschula
AREA SPECIALIST – SOUTHERN AFRICA
Professor of African Language Studies and Chair of Intellectualisation of African Languages, Multilingualism and Education, School of Languages & Literatures, Rhodes University
BRIAN D. JOSEPH
AREA SPECIALIST – GREECE AND THE BALKANS
Distinguished University Professor of Linguistics and The Kenneth E. Naylor Professor of South Slavic Linguistics, The Ohio State University
Marc V. Simon
ANALYST
Associate Professor, Department of Political Science and Coordinator, Peace and Conflict Studies Program, Bowling Green State University
Leah Windsor
ANALYST
Research Assistant Professor, Institute for Intelligent Systems, University of Memphis