ABSTRACT
One of the most interesting sociological and political phenomena since the 1960s has been the resurgence of ethnic identity and ethnic nationalism to such an extent that not only is there increased awareness of the ethnic and cultural diversity throughout the world, but, as events in Bulgaria, Rumania, China and the former republics of the USSR, now known as the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), have shown, there has been an increase in ethnic conflict. Ethnic groups, which had for generations been regarded as politically quiescent and socially assimilated into the mainstream of life and the majority community in different countries as a result of education and other policies, have begun to protest at their inferior status and have demanded the right to receive education in their own languages.
