FACTORS, FEATURES AND CONSEQUENCES OF LANGUAGE COMPETITION AND THE INTERCONNECTION BETWEEN LANGUAGE AND POLITICS IN INTERNA TIONAL RELATIONS: A CASE STUDY ON THE EU
FACTORS, FEATURES AND CONSEQUENCES OF LANGUAGE COMPETITION AND THE INTERCONNECTION BETWEEN LANGUAGE AND POLITICS IN INTERNA TIONAL RELATIONS: A CASE STUDY ON THE EU

Summary/Abstract: This article explores the multidimensional interaction between language and politics in the field of interna tional relations, with a focus on language competition and the political role of multilingualism within the European Union (EU). The relevance of the topic stems from the growing role of communication in international politics and the tension between official multilingualism and the de facto dominance of English as a global instrument of political and diplomatic influence. The study argues that language policy is not merely an administrative or cultural matter but, above all, a political tool that reflects the balance of power, identity, and legitimacy – including at the supranational level. The aim of the article is to analyze the relationship between language and politics in international relations through the prism of transactional and discursive dimensions of interlingual interaction, as well as to examine the hierarchization of languages and linguistic stratification within the EU. The research covers the theoretical foundations of interlingual dynamics, the institutional factors shaping EU language policy, and the practical manifestations of its implementation. The findings demonstrate that the principle of linguistic equality, as declared in the EU’s normative documents, is in practice gradually transforming into functional monolingualism, driven by pragmatic communication needs and the geopolitical advantage of the English language. This creates a linguistic hierarchy that influences the political positioning of EU member states and limits the potential of less prestigious languages. The conclusions highlight the contradictions between symbolic multilingualism and the actual unification of the EU’s linguistic space. These contradictions necessitate a rethinking of language policy as a key factor in integration, democratic representation, and cultural equality within international institutions.

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