UNESCO and Language Policy and Planning

Journal of Language Problems and Language Planning, 38/1: 1-18., 2014

One of the grand claims of neoliberalism is that the free-market world is an ‘actor-free’ process, in which no one is in charge. The aim of this article is to problematize this claim by examining the agency of two international institutions, the World Bank and UNESCO, and the ways in which they shape global language-education policies. In light of the latest reports released by the two institutions, the findings of this study suggest that both institutions are key players in the realm of global policies. Their differences, however, recline in their orientations, motives, and power. Whereas the World Bank is a finance institution with ‘economic prosperity’ as its motto, and neoliberalism as the basis of its policies, UNESCO is an intellectual institution with peace as its mantra, and universal consensus and social inclusion as the basis of its policies. The impact of such differences is notable on the type of policies each institution advocates. Whereas the World Bank’s policies call for an alliance between language, education and economy as a means to eradicate poverty and achieve development, UNESCO’s policies call for multiculturalism, multilingualism, and pluralism in education as a means to promote intercultural and international dialogues as a strategy to safeguard peace. The former model is currently in vogue in education sectors worldwide. Its global domination, however, cannot be explained without taking into account the financial supremacy of the World Bank, the economic dependency of many world’s nations on the World Bank’s long-term developmental loans, and the many conditions set by the Bank for its loan distributions, which includes, among others, the implementation of its neoliberal-driven educational and linguistic policies. Keywords: UNESCO, The World Bank, language-education policy, global education frameworks, neoliberalism https://benjamins.com/#catalog/journals/lplp.38.1.01bor/details

Language Policy, 2006

This article analyzes recent news-making initiatives by UNESCO and their implications for language policy on the international level. In particular, I focus on two conventions relevant to language policy-making, the ‘Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions’ (approved October 2005), and the ‘Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Heritage’ (which entered into force in April 2006). The adoption of the former was preceded by a widely publicized controversy regarding the status of cultural activities and goods in relation to international trade agreements and protectionism. The latter is a complement to the UNESCO World Heritage program that provides for a similar listmaking of expressions of intangible heritage (including oral traditions). I discuss both conventions in the light of media response and analyze their potential for driving language policy in Member States; and I conclude with a brief description of other UNESCO efforts at shaping language politics.

globalization 10.1111/b.9781405131995.2008.x UNESCO -the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization -is a specialized UN agency, founded in 1945, and composed of 192 member states. Its headquarters are in Paris, where member states maintain delegations headed by a person with diplomatic status, typically with the rank of ambassador. UNESCO also has more than 50 field offices around the world. The preamble to the UNESCO constitution emphasizes the importance of the organization's mission of peace through intellectual and cultural development and exchange, stating that "since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed" (UNESCO 1945). The UNESCO constitution further states that the organization's purpose is "to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among the nations through education, science and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion, by the Charter of the United Nations." For the 2006-2007 biennium, UNESCO had a budget appropriation of US$610 million, with an additional US$409 million in "extra-budgetary resources" (additional funds from sources other than member states' assessed contributions), for a total budget of US$1.02 billion for the two-year period.

Language Problems and Language Planning, 2016

The United Nations system has been engaged for some years in setting new development priorities to replace the Millennium Development Goals following their expiry in 2015. While language issues are almost wholly absent from documents intended to guide this policy process, there are thought-provoking implications for language planners in some of the key ideas advanced by agencies within the UN system. These include the need to address structural inequalities, greater emphasis on cities as loci of social planning and management, growing interest in social protection floors as a policy mechanism, and the implications of sustainable development as an alternative planning paradigm.

Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research, 2014

The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout the publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNESCO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part in any form for education or nonprofit use, without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. As a courtesy the authors should be informed of any use made of their work. No use of this publication may be made for commercial purposes.

The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout this document do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNESCO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The ideas and opinions expressed in this document are those of the authors; they are not necessarily those of UNESCO and do not commit the Organization. Designed and printed by UNESCO The printer is certifi ed Imprim'Vert®, the French printing industry's environmental initiative.

Whilst there is an ever-growing literature on the economic and political aspects of ‘globalization,’ at present there are few studies analyzing how intergovernmental organizations have reacted to this phenomenon. This article aims to fill this gap by analyzing the response to globalization of UNESCO, one of the least studied organizations of the UN constellation. Addressing the global orientation of some of the current programs, this article shows how a recent re-evaluation of scientific humanism—the main philosophical framework contributing to the creation of UNESCO—has influenced both UNESCO’s self-understanding and its understanding of globalization. Scientific humanism is a philosophical utopia that couples the advance of scientific knowledge with the diffusion of a common philosophical framework and promotes a universal system of education in order to establish a global community. Based on the philosophical appeal of a culture of peace based on science, humanism and human rights, UNESCO’s representation of globalization represents an intriguing example of how our global future may be conceived and, to some extent, realized.

The Netherlands Antilles 25 years Associate Member of the UNESCO To build peace in the mind of people, 2008