[...] This chapter aims to clarify why language policies are the substructure of a variety of important democratic requirements and hence why fair and ethical language policies matter for democratic polities. In a nutshell: without language skills, access to various spheres - political as well as socio-economic – is hindered. Without access to these spheres of citizenship, no political, social and economic rights and duties can be properly exercised, and no rights claims can be properly voiced. [...]