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This article points out the need for the Government and individuals to work on ensuring a better participation of Nigerian languages in national development.

In what ways do national currencies contribute to a sense of national identity? Building on the insights of 19th-and early 20th-century observers, the author suggests that national currencies might foster national identities in five ways: (a) providing a vehicle for nationalist imagery that constructs a sense of collective tradition and memory, (b) acting as a common medium of social communication that may facilitate the "communicative efficiency" of members of the nation and encourage similar frameworks of thought, (c) creating collective monetary experiences that can bolster the feeling of membership in a national community of shared fate, (d) contributing to a sense of popular sovereignty, at least insofar as the national currency is managed in a way that corresponds with the people's wishes, and (e) strengthening the kind of quasi-religious faith that is associated with nationalism, especially when the currency is managed in a stable manner.

National pride is the psychological hinge that joins self-fulfillment with public purposes of government. A survey conducted by the European Values Systems Study Group in 15 nations shows that pride in country is expressed by the majority in every country; however, the degree of pride differs cross-nationally. National pride is higher in countries with a strong war of independence tradition (eg, Ireland, US, & Mexico) & lower in countries unsuccessful in war (eg, Germany & Japan). Comparisons of attitudes toward nation & bellicose attitudes show that pride in nation does not encourage support for military action. 5 Tables, 4 Illustrations, 14 References. AA

The demography, culture, & language of contemporary Belarus are studied to determine the present level of national self-awareness. An overview of politics & social change in Belarus throughout the 20th century is followed by an analysis of the relationship between nationalism, culture, & native language. Noting the elevation of Russian to national language status under President Alyaksander Lukashenka, it is contended that Belarusian scholars & cultural figures have become increasingly troubled by the loss of their native language. Even though Belarusian culture exists in the background of the national society, it is asserted that the young generation's concern with political issues has raised national consciousness in Belarus during the 1990s. Future research is encouraged to examine the potential relegation of Belarusian to a folk language, along with the role of Belarus in the political sphere dominated by Russia. J. W. Parker

A frequent assertion about the recent events and pervasive mood in Belarus—the apparent efforts to reunite with Russia, the virtual denial of a Belarusian identity by a Russophone president, official nostalgia for the time of the former Soviet Union— is that national consciousness is somehow retarded or delayed, and national development is lagging considerably behind that of its neighboring states, Lithuania and Ukraine. This article seeks to address the question of national self-awareness in Belarus from three angles: those of demography, culture, and language. Was development of the republic in the Soviet period different from that of the other republics, and is that development responsible for what has been described as the "national nihilism" of today? Is that mood likely to change with a new generation of Belarusians? How far is President Alyaksander Lukashenka, the first president of Belarus, who was elected in July 1994, responsible for the present situation and how far is he a symptom of the notable lack of self-assertion of Belarusians?