This book proposes an innovative treatment of minority language policies, by looking at them as policy options that can be methodically evaluated. The author applies the analytical concepts and technical tools of policy analysis to guide the reader through a step-by-step application of notions such as effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, with particular reference to the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. The thrust of this book is deeply interdisciplinary, and links the evaluation exercise to sociolinguistic, political and legal considerations.KEY FEATURES1 Topicality - Not all countries in Europe have signed up to the Charter as yet; it's a legislative tool with very broad implications2 Topicality - Recent political upheaval and migration within EasternEurope and minority nationalist movements in countries in Western Europe put language planning and protection for minority languages high up the political agenda3 Originality - This approach quite different from other books, as it stresses concepts from economics and social policy analysis rather than concepts of law and rights4 First major analysis of the implementation of the Charter5 Includes the full text of Charter, commentary, Flensburg recommendations and a selection of internet resources to enable reader to use the book as a self-contained resourceCONTENTSPreface and AcknowledgementsPART I: Core Issues and ConceptsIntroduction and OverviewLanguage PolicyPART II: The European Charter for Regional or Minority LanguagesThe Charter: An OverviewImplementing the Charter: Organisational IssuesPART III: Application >From Legal Texts to 'Good Policy'EffectivenessCosts and Cost-EffectivenessDemocracyA Walk-Through Example: Language Education PolicyConclusionsAssessment and PerspectivesBibliographyAppendices: The Text of the Charter; Explanatory Report on the Charter; TheFlensburg Recommendations; Selected Internet ResourcesABOUT THE AUTHORFRANÇOIS GRIN is Senior Lecturer at the University of Geneva and AdjunctDirector of the University of Geneva's Education Research Unit. He has served as the Deputy Director of the European Centre for Minority Issues inGermany and taught in Canada and in the United States. He is the author of numerous publications in language and education policy evaluation.