National Cultural Autonomy and Linguistic Rights in Central and Eastern Europe

Abstract

The theory and practice of national cultural autonomy (NCA) are examined from the perspective of national minorities’ linguistic rights in four countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE): Hungary, Estonia, Serbia and Russia. The idea of NCA dates back to the end of the nineteenth century and is based on the principle of ethnic communities’ autonomy—within a multi-ethnic state—to manage their own linguistic and cultural affairs. The notion of NCA was rediscovered in the 1990s and incorporated into the law and practice of the said four countries. Using a comparative approach, the chapter reflects upon NCA’s potential contribution in advancing the linguistic rights of national minorities in CEE. It concludes that, while the actual autonomy afforded to minority institutions in CEE is often restricted, NCA may serve as a platform to articulate concerns of great salience to national minorities, encompassing minority participation and multilingual education.