Many forces are shifting the role of the nation-state and altering our
fundamental understanding of how it should function. The author argue
s that the transplanted European model of the nation-state has become
dysfunctional, creating ''national minorities'', serving as an ideolog
ical cloak for various forms of oppression and opposing forms of educa
tion that would promote diversity of languages and cultures. The decli
ne of territorial sovereignty under the forces of globalization, the m
ove to supranational forms of organization and the emergence of sub-na
tional areas of economic and social development (often city-regions) p
rovide a new range of opportunities for development of minority school
ing.