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Abstract

This study discusses the establishment of the Etxepare Basque Institute in 2007 as a way of investigating the status of the Basque language Euskara, which was once looked down on and labeled as a lesser-used minority language, but which is now coming into greater prominence in the international arena in an era of globalization. The mission of the institute is external projection of Basque language and culture. Such projection, on one hand, presupposes the existence of a standardized language and culture to be diffused and that there is a distinction to be made between “interior” and “exterior” on the other. By analyzing the activities of the Etxepare Basque Institute, the paper aims to describe the broad range of Basque public paradiplomacy and offer a perspective on its future.

About the Author

Sho Hagio’s initial academic concerns were 1) new social movements for the revitalization of lesser-used languages, 2) language and nationalism, and 3) linguistic rights and linguistic policy, by referring to Euskara (Basque language) as a case study. Today, his main academic interests are related to the Basque language and culture overseas spread policy. Among his principal publications are Gendai Basuku wo Shiru tame no 50 Shô (lit. Contemporary Basque Country in 50 Chapters, co-edited with Hiromi Yoshida, Akashi-Shoten, 2012, in Japanese), “Basque Nationalism and Its Discourse on Language” in JCAS Symposium Series No. 8 (National Museum of Ethnology, 1999, in English), and Les Basques (Jacques Allières, Hakusuisha, 1992, Translation from French to Japanese). Apart from his academic career, he is a co-founder and the advisor of the Tokyoko Euskal Etxea (Tokyo Basque Center) and he speaks Euskara (Basque).

Education:

M.A., International Affairs - Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (1989)

B.A., Economics - Waseda University (1986)

Profession:

Faculty Member, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Japan (2008- ) E-mail: hagio.sho@nitech.ac.jp

Staff Member, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (1989-2008)

Collaborative Researcher: National Museum of Ethnology (2005-2007)

Collaborative Researcher: Kyoto University (2007-2010)

Visiting Research Fellow, Waseda University (2013- )

DOI

https://doi.org/10.18122/B2HQ5D

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