The aim of the course is to present the role of the state in dealing with the problems of various minorities and in creating civil society in the Baltic region; to analyze ethnicity and reasons for ethnic discrimination in modern society; and to give sufficient competence to explain the development of ethnic compositions in the Baltic region. The Baltic Region in this class is defined as the Baltic Sea Region and its relation to the neighboring countries. Eric P. Kaufmann, focusing on dominant ethnicity, represents the State’s transformations and participation in the formational process of civil society. His analysis is based on liberal globalisation and multiculturalism that “have compelled nations to transform their identities from an ethnic to a civic mode. This has led, in many cases, to dominant ethnic decline, but also to its peripheral revival in the form of Far Right politics. At the same time, the growth of mass democracy and the decline of post-colonial and Cold War state unity in the developing world have opened the floodgates to assertions of ethnic dominance”. The post-Cold War period opens the way for new directions and changes in the Baltic Sea region.

“Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods in Sociolinguistics” is a resource book for students in linguistics and most particularly in sociolinguistics or linguistic pragmatics. It focuses on two main research paradigms related to sociolinguistic research, namely quantitative analysis (related to the variationist tradition) and qualitative analysis (related to the ethnographic tradition). The study guide intends to support in-class activities, as well as to serve as a source for independent study.

This resource book for students introduces the main concepts of multilingualism and provides a wide range of definitions revealing the complex nature of the phenomenon. It also provides knowledge on historical developments, linguistic and cultural changes and emphasizes the historical relevance to the present situation in Europe. The documentation on the EU policy on multilingualism is critically evaluated while placing policy issues in the context of national and institutional perspectives. The resource book for students explores the economic value of languages and the impact of global English as well as the role of other “big” languages in Europe and the world. The case studies of different European countries/ cities provide deeper knowledge and develop understanding of political, educational, economic and socio-cultural aspects of multilingualism. These aspects are highlighted by examining cultural and socio-political factors that may influence or even determine minority/ migrant language loss, their development or maintenance. Finally, it provides an analysis of challenges for the educational sector and the schooling of multilingual children.