Resumen de Political conflict over bilingual initiatives: A case study
The objective in this paper will be to highlight the danger of using already constructed typologies implying permanent relationships between elements and monolithic categories to analyse real examples of language conflict. A concrete instance of the establishment of a bilingual initiative will be drawn upon to outline the nature of political conflict surrounding such an event. The specific instance chosen will be the establishment of a designated bilingual secondary school in Wales. Having detailed the course of events leading to the school's establishment, the paper will provide an analysis of the political alliances forged in support of and in opposition to the school. The nature of the discourse of supportive and oppositional groups will be examined in order to demonstrate significant and contradictory views of the enabling power of bilingualism. The paper will conclude by assessing to what degree analysis of particular instances of conflict over bilingualism enhances a general understanding of the issue.
