Political Community in Minority Language Writing: Claiming Difference, Seeking Commonality (Palgrave Studies in Minority Languages and Communities)

This book offers case studies and a comparative analysis of three authors writing in different European minority languages, exploring how they link national and context-marked political community with universal human requirements. The author examines their left-wing positions and how their writing speaks to the acceptance of difference as a necessary condition of such universal values. He presents, for the first time in English, an in-depth treatment of the writing of the Basque poet, novelist and essayist Joseba Sarrionandia (1958–) and the Catalan priest and civil disobedience author and activist Lluís Maria Xirinacs (1932–2007), whilst linking their understanding of a 'foundational universalism' with the work of Irish novelist, short-story writer and language activist Máirtín Ó Cadhain (1906–1970). The book is by its nature interdisciplinary in order to engage in a thoroughgoing comparative analysis of European language minorities, and responds empirically and theoretically to calls made recently in this regard from within critical Iberian Studies. It will therefore be of interest to students and scholars of fields such as Iberian and Celtic studies, International Relations theory, literary criticism, nationalism studies, political philosophy, as well as socio-legal and critical terrorism studies. This book offers case studies and a comparative analysis of three authors writing in different European minority languages, exploring how they link national and context-marked political community with universal human requirements. The author examines their left-wing positions and how their writing speaks to the acceptance of difference as a necessary condition of such universal values. He presents, for the first time in English, an in-depth treatment of the writing of the Basque poet, novelist and essayist Joseba Sarrionandia (1958) and the Catalan priest and civil disobedience author and activist Llus Maria Xirinacs (19322007), whilst linking their understanding of a 'foundational universalism' with the work of Irish novelist, short-story writer and language activist Mirtn Cadhain (19061970). The book is by its nature interdisciplinary in order to engage in a serious comparative analysis of European language minorities, and responds empirically and theoretically to calls made recently in this regard from within critical Iberian Studies. It will therefore be of interest to students and scholars of fields such as Iberian and Celtic studies, International Relations theory, literary criticism, nationalism studies, political philosophy, as well as socio-legal and critical terrorism studies. Acknowledgements Contents List of Figures 1: Introduction: Universal Values in a Partisan Key References 2: The World Is a Prison: Political Community in the Work of Joseba Sarrionandia Introduction Conceiving the Political Political Violence Joseba Sarrionandia: Imagery and Reception Conclusion References 3: Lluís Maria Xirinacs: The Inside and Outside of a Political Ontology Introduction The Early Years The Activist Years: Civil Disobedience and Hunger Strikes Xirinacs as Senator: The Civil Disobedient Within Institutions Xirinacs: The Final Years Conclusion References 4: Máirtín Ó Cadhain: Bordering Complexity Introduction When I Did Read It, I Knew Exactly What It Was Locating Local, Organic Community The Civil Service and Borders: The Excavation of a Political Ontology Conclusion References 5: Conclusions: If We Cannot Move From ‘Here’ to ‘There’, Why Not Find a Better Starting Point? Introduction The Reaffirmation of Political Community: Incarceration and ‘Nowhere Places’ Another Nowhere: Utopia, Dystopia and Alterity Enjoyment of the Particular Conclusion References References Index