Item – Theses Canada

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OCLC number
28496119
Author
Penrose, Janet.
Title
The role of ethnic political activism in the preservation of Frisian ethnicity in the Netherlands
Degree
Ph. D. -- University of Toronto, 1989
Publisher
Ottawa : National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1992.
Description
6 microfiches.
Notes
University Microfilms order no. UMI00308732.
Includes bibliographical references.
Abstract
The phenomenon of ethnic minorities, and the reality of their struggle for survival, has characterized Western Europe for hundreds of years. In the eighteenth century, however, the introduction of the ideology of nationalism and its application through the formation of "nation-states", asserted new pressures of acculturation and thereby threatened the permanent loss of distinctive minority cultures. This thesis examines the attempts of the Frisians, a small and generally unknown ethnic minority that currently forms part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, to retain their cultural distinctiveness in the face of both past and, more particularly, present pressures for conformity to the dominant culture. To demonstrate the dynamism of culture in general, and to establish the historical legitimacy of the Frisian culture in particular, the thesis begins with a discussion of the prehistoric origins of Friesland and its people, and then traces the evolution of Frisian society through to its integration with the Low Countries at large in the early sixteenth century. This is followed by an examination of the ideology of nationalism and its application in the Dutch context. After illustrating how both "nation-state" nationalism and ethnic nationalism emerged from different interpretations of the same basic ideology, the evolution of Frisian nationalism through three cumulative phases is discussed. This sets the stage for a detailed examination of political activism as the most recent phase in efforts to ensure the survival of a distinctive Frisian culture. The discussion of political ethnic activism begins with a brief overview of the Dutch political system and then continues with an introduction to the Frisian National Party (FNP), the main proponent of Frisian cultural retention through increased autonomy. After demonstrating the links between the FNP and the Frisian movement as a whole, the party's sphere of influence and its political platform are discussed. To evaluate the effectiveness of the FNP's efforts to ensure cultural survival, the thesis then draws upon the results of two surveys which involved members of the FNP and a random sample of the Frisian population at large. By combining survey results with electoral records, it is possible to evaluate the FNP's political success, to clarify the geographical distribution of support, and to compile a profile of the FNP's members. The survey results also permit the identification of elements that the Frisian people consider essential to their ethnicity, and allow an examination of the role which this ethnicity plays in contemporary society. Finally, by comparing these perceptions with the objectives and success of the FNP it is possible to address the question of how political activism contributes to the survival of an independently viable culture. The conclusions shed light on the future prospects of ethnic minorities in general, and contribute to an understanding of potential transformations in the cultural and political geography of Western Europe.
ISBN
0315692200
9780315692206