Leonid Raihman, 2003, Media Legislation, Minority Issues, and Implications for Latvia
The objective of this paper is to contribute to the existing national debate in Latvia on language law and policy in the sphere of the electronic media. It is an attempt to broaden the perspective of Latvian experts and policy makers by presenting selected relevant laws and policies from other countries and to measure domestic practices in this area against international standards.
The paper can also be useful to international experts interested in Latvian law and policy concerning language use in the electronic media. The analysis is premised on recognition of the importance of human rights and the rule of law in a democratic society struggling to find its own specific formula of ethnic integration and cultural pluralism. On the ground of this research, recommendations to Latvian policy-makers in the area of electronic media law are offered, with a view to guarantee the rights of minority members to non- discrimination, freedom of expression, and enjoyment of their culture.
This paper is limited in its geographic and thematic scope. It explores cases predominantly in Europe. It is no more than a modest endeavor to inform the discussion by introducing some outside reflections, thus making sure that domestic experts and politicians are aware of the plurality of options. The work represents the summary result of a larger research effort undertaken in the framework of an international policy fellowship, which the author had the privilege to win in 2001.
I am grateful to my advisors Dr Edwin Rekosh and Prof. Alexandrs Mirlins for their guidance and comments on the draft. During 2002, I interviewed over 20 Latvian politicians, journalists, and businessmen, and their views helped me put my research in focus and make it more relevant and more pragmatic than it would otherwise have been. My thanks go to them all.
