Kenneth D. McRae is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Carleton University, Ottawa, and a Past President of the Canadian Political Science Association. He focuses his research on political thought and comparative politics, with special interests in multilingual states and their language policies. His previous publications include Conflict and Compromise in Multilingual Societies, Vol. 1: Switzerland (WLU Press, 1983), and Vol. 2: Belgium (WLU Press, 1986).
"To the author's great credit, McRae has achieved a text that is
beyond compare....Overall, the book is well written, with numerous
graphs and tables to supplement the text. A rich bibliography and
detailed index add to a complete and thorough academic effort. This
book is for scholars interested in linguistic differences and
struggles between ethnolinguistic groups. Historians and political
scientists will also find material rich in their areas of interest.
Most importantly, this is a book for the Finns who have not
examined themselves as closely as has McRae. It is highly
commendable that a foreign scholar with no ties to the two
languages has developed a comprehensive text about the two Finnish
language groups. It is high time that such work is published, and
it may be justifiably appropriate to have a neutral third party
examine one of the most sensitive issues of Finnish life, which to
this date has been impossible for a native of Finland." -- Mika
Roinila, Acta Sociologica
"[a] painstakingly researched and richly documented study of
language conflict in Finland....A particularly fascinating section
deals with stereotypical perceptions of both Finns and Swedes." --
Carol Stos -- Canadian Book Review Annual
"Already in itself it is one of the most clear and concise writings
of the country's history I have experienced, and when combined with
its interpretation of the impact on the Swedish speaking population
becomes outstanding....If you wish to learn how Finnish-speaking
and Swedish-speaking citizens perceive themselves and other
language groups, or of similarities and differences in their views
on political and social issues, you will find the informative
answers in this book...fascinating reading. His book should be of
very special interest to all Swedish-speaking Finns, and I
recommend it highly also to their descendents abroad. I use it as
an encyclopedia almost weekly." -- E. Norman Westerberg, Consul of
Finland, Bellevue, WA, Sidan Fyra
"...if the two additional volumes on Finland and Canada are as well
done as these on Switzerland and Belgium, Professor McRae...will
have made major contributions to our substantive and theoretical
understandings of social conflict processes, to macro
sociolinguistics, and to a socially relevant applied social
science....I recommend these books highly." -- Allen Dr. Grimshaw
-- Contemporary Sociology
"Professor McRae has made another major contribution to
understanding the nature of language problems and possible
solutions for language planning.... His depth of research is
impressive. His tables, charts, and maps are insightful. He has
provided an excellent model for multilingual research." -- Robert
N. St. Clair, University of Louisville -- Language Problems and
Language Planning
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