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Language as a Ground of Discrimination: Example Swedish Finns A Critical Discourse Analysis of Swedish Minority Politics

Salmela, Kia LU (2022) MRSM15 20221
Human Rights Studies
Abstract
Language is a protected ground for discrimination internationally, but not in Sweden, although minority politics recognize language as a human right. This thesis focuses on Swedish Finns, one of Sweden's national minorities. As minority rights exist internationally, nationally, and locally, this thesis will analyze official documents from the Council of Europe, the Swedish state, and the Equality Ombudsman from the local case in Västerås Municipality. Using the theory of the Linguistic Human Rights Approach and the theoretical method of Critical Discourse Analysis, this thesis investigates the research problem in light of previous research on Finland-Sweden power relations, Swedish Finns, and language as a human right through the political... (More)
Language is a protected ground for discrimination internationally, but not in Sweden, although minority politics recognize language as a human right. This thesis focuses on Swedish Finns, one of Sweden's national minorities. As minority rights exist internationally, nationally, and locally, this thesis will analyze official documents from the Council of Europe, the Swedish state, and the Equality Ombudsman from the local case in Västerås Municipality. Using the theory of the Linguistic Human Rights Approach and the theoretical method of Critical Discourse Analysis, this thesis investigates the research problem in light of previous research on Finland-Sweden power relations, Swedish Finns, and language as a human right through the political and human rights discourses. The analysis identifies discursive and social practices, as well as how the Council of Europe, governmental investigators, and the Equality Ombudsman discuss minority rights in relation to human rights, language as a ground for discrimination, and the stakeholders' role views play in the discussion. The results show that language is not treated as a human right and that there is political resistance to extending prohibited grounds of discrimination to include language. Moreover, the results show that international human rights actors are powerless in the situation; ultimately, sovereign Sweden decides. Results confirm previous findings that political injustices towards Swedish Finns and broader national minorities are not taken seriously. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Salmela, Kia LU
supervisor
organization
course
MRSM15 20221
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
language, language as a ground of discrimination, power relations, Critical Discourse Analysis, linguicism, linguistic human rights, human rights, national minority, Swedish Finns
language
English
id
9097503
date added to LUP
2022-09-19 09:22:15
date last changed
2022-09-19 09:22:15
@misc{9097503,
  abstract     = {{Language is a protected ground for discrimination internationally, but not in Sweden, although minority politics recognize language as a human right. This thesis focuses on Swedish Finns, one of Sweden's national minorities. As minority rights exist internationally, nationally, and locally, this thesis will analyze official documents from the Council of Europe, the Swedish state, and the Equality Ombudsman from the local case in Västerås Municipality. Using the theory of the Linguistic Human Rights Approach and the theoretical method of Critical Discourse Analysis, this thesis investigates the research problem in light of previous research on Finland-Sweden power relations, Swedish Finns, and language as a human right through the political and human rights discourses. The analysis identifies discursive and social practices, as well as how the Council of Europe, governmental investigators, and the Equality Ombudsman discuss minority rights in relation to human rights, language as a ground for discrimination, and the stakeholders' role views play in the discussion. The results show that language is not treated as a human right and that there is political resistance to extending prohibited grounds of discrimination to include language. Moreover, the results show that international human rights actors are powerless in the situation; ultimately, sovereign Sweden decides. Results confirm previous findings that political injustices towards Swedish Finns and broader national minorities are not taken seriously.}},
  author       = {{Salmela, Kia}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Language as a Ground of Discrimination: Example Swedish Finns A Critical Discourse Analysis of Swedish Minority Politics}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}