Special Issue "Endangered Human Diversity: Languages, Cultures, Epistemologies"

Guest Editor
Prof. Dr. Anders Breidlid
Oslo University College, Faculty of Education and International Studies, P.O. Box 4, St. Olavs Plass, N-0130 Oslo, Norway
Website: http://home.hio.no/~andersb/indexenglish.html
E-Mail: Anders.Breidlid@lui.hio.no
Interests: international education; education and development; international politics; human rights; HIV/AIDS; indigenous knowledge; African Literature; Sub-Saharan Africa; Cuba; Chile; the US

Dear Colleagues,

This special issue focuses on the threat to human diversity in terms of epistemologies, languages, cultures and traditions. When a language disappears, mankind loses a part of its rich cultural heritage. When cultures and traditions are marginalized it impacts on identity development and construction. Moreover, what are the consequences of the hegemonic role of Western epistemology in terms of human diversity globally? While the answer to this question is often contradictory and multiple, there is a sense that Western hegemonic epistemology does not necessarily play a positive role in preserving linguistic and cultural heterogeneity. On the contrary, the hegemonic Western discourse is often seen to be closely related to what could be called linguistic and cultural imperialism, resulting in the marginalization of peoples’ languages, cultures and epistemologies, particularly in the global South.  It seems necessary to replace the monological focus on Western knowledge production with what Gregory Bateson calls double or multiple descriptions.  Such an approach allows for the incorporation of various linguistic, cultural and epistemological manifestations in the discussions of sustainability, sustainable development and a sustainable future.
There is a need for new conversations and questions about epistemologies, cultures and languages in the global village. Questions of what kind of knowledges and cultures exist, for instance in learning institutions, are seldom asked and problematized, even though there is common knowledge that the traditional knowledges and cultures  of millions of students are dislocated and rubbished. Questions related to the kind of knowledges, traditions and cultures for a sustainable future seldom transcend the Western knowledge universe. To what extent does globalization hinder epistemological, cultural and linguistic diversity?
In this issue of Sustainability we welcome manuscripts which both address issues of human diversity and sustainability from a global perspective, and more localized or micro studies. Manuscripts discussing the impact of globalization on epistemological, cultural and linguistic diversity are particularly welcome.

Prof. Dr. Anders Breidlid
Guest Editor

Submission

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. Papers will be published continuously (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are refereed through a peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed Open Access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 500 CHF (Swiss Francs) and will increase to 800 CHF in July. English correction and/or formatting fees of 250 CHF (Swiss Francs) will be charged in certain cases for those articles accepted for publication that require extensive additional formatting and/or English corrections.

• Threat to human diversity
• Western knowledge production and sustainability
• Globalization and marginalization
• Languages, cultures and  identity construction
• Knowledge conservation
• Cultural sustainability
• Rare languages
• Folklore