Native tongue, language policy, and political attitudes

This dissertation explores how the languages people speak—particularly the relationship between their native tongue(s) and the official language(s) of their country—affect their views on the political system, including attachment to their country, overall approval of the regime, and trust in its core institutions. The study finds that while speaking the official language strengthens feelings of connection to the country, it also tends to reduce support for the regime and its institutions. The research also shows that even if people are not fluent in the official language, speaking a language similar to it can still influence their political attitudes, affecting their sense of national belonging and their support for the government. Additionally, the dissertation examines how linguistic diversity and the legacy of colonial languages observed in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa complicate these patterns. The findings reveal that people’s political attitudes are shaped differently by their first and second languages, with the impact varying depending on whether they use a colonial language or an indigenous language. Finally, the study finds that linguistic differences at the dialect level—such as in China—also affect political views, showing that even subtle variations in dialect can influence people’s political opinions. This research highlights the often-overlooked importance of language in shaping political attitudes and urges further attention to the role of language in today’s increasingly diverse and multilingual societies.