Political representation of linguistic minorities: a comparative analysis of three ethno-regionalist parties in Italy

The Sudtiroler Volkspartei in South Tyrol, the Union Valdotaine in the Aosta Valley and the Partito Sardo d'Azione in Sardinia are the main examples of historical ethno-regionalist parties in Italy. These political actors have played a central role mainly within regional party and political systems, but they all have also obtained representation in the national parliament several times. Within the framework of the multi-level institutional setting of the Italian State, this study aims at investigating the patterns of political representation of the three mentioned linguistic minorities: the Sardinian-speaking linguistic minority within the Sardinia region, the German-speaking one in South Tyrol and the French-speaking one in the Aosta Valley. The role of language as an identity catalyst, which can enhance the internal cohesion of the mobilized minority groups, is examined here. This study aims also at assessing to what extent the language represents a political goal of the three mobilized groups and of the parties that claim to represent them. Adapted from the source document.