Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: English, as the lingua franca and given that Anglo-Saxon countries predominantly uphold democratic principles, this underscores how English could become a tool that promotes a worldview favorable to democracy. The objective of this paper is to examine the impact that English language proficiency has on political socialization and to assess whether proficiency in English can be linked to the promotion of democratic values in nation-states. Utilizing Microsoft Excel the paper conducts a quantitative linear regression analyses to test the relationship between English proficiency measured by the English Proficiency Index (EPI) from Education First to measure the English language skills of 90 nation states and democratic governance measured by the Liberal Democracy Index from V-Dem. The paper finds a positive correlation between English proficiency and democratic values in nation-states. However, the study does not establish English-language media consumption as a statistically significant mediating factor between the two variables. Instead, the paper identifies economic indicators (GDP-PPP), historical factors (colonial history, Commonwealth membership) and heads of states publicly speaking English as positive indicators for English proficiency. The paper underscores the need for further historical analysis and aggregated media studies to fully comprehend how language and media play a role in political socialization.
Source: Cogent Arts and Humanities
Author: Abdullah AlKhuraibet
Institution: KU Leuven
Language: English
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,165
OpenAlex ID: W4408673966