[Colin Glassey] Can A Country with Two (or more) Languages Exist?
Today's question, which goes directly towards the just-published European Constitution, is: can a country exist if the people in the country speak different languages? To some degree this question has an answer: Yes. Switzerland has been a viable country for at least 300 years and the people there speak German or French (with one Italian speaking Canton). Other countries which contain multiple languages are: Belgium (Dutch and French) around since 1815. India (many languages) around since 1946. Many countries alive today have ethnic and linguistic minorities. Still, I wonder how well these multi-language states do? Belgium doesn't really exist as a single country. India is massively divided as the different provinces jockey for power and alliances.
The European Union is headed towards the creation of a United States of Europe. But can it really work? Should it really work? How much essential trust can exist between people who don't speak the same language?
Austria-Hungary was a multi-language state, it broke up at the end of World War One. I've always had a nostalgia for the Austrian Empire. And yet, the bottom line is that the Hungarians never liked the other members of the Austrian Empire, with the exception of the Austrians in Vienna.
My theory is that a multi-language state can't really work. At a deep level you have to be able to talk to the other citizens of your country before you believe they are part of your country.
Here is a good essay by Iain Murray on the new E.U. constitution. In this essay Steve Den Beste argues strongly against the E.U. and its attempt to take over England. Here is an editorial in today's London Times about the constitution. Simon Jenkins, a general purpose conservative, attacks the E.U. You can read the current draft document right here.
Personally, I am not in favor of United States of Europe if it going to based on the statist model of France. The role of power in the proposed U.S.E. should be "power not granted specifically to central government belongs to the member states".
1:49:41 PM 
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