The Russian Federation’s policy on promoting the Russian language: global strategies and implementation in Syria in the context of transformations

this article analyses the Russian Federation's policy of supporting and promoting the Russian language on the international stage as a component of 'soft power'. It examines the conceptual foundations, strategic priorities and mechanisms for implementing this policy globally. Particular attention is paid to the specifics of applying Russian-language and educational initiatives in the Syrian Arab Republic, especially in the context of protracted internal conflict and subsequent political transformation. The analysis covers both the achievements and the problems and difficulties encountered in expanding the coverage of the Russian language in Syria. On the one hand, the number of schoolchildren and students has increased rapidly over the past few years. However, a number of issues have arisen due to the civil war, infrastructure destruction and lack of funding, as well as insufficient teacher qualifications and numbers. Another problem is the outdated and ineffective methods of teaching Russian. Additionally, Syrians find it challenging to learn Russian due to its significantly different grammar and alphabet. Nevertheless, interest in learning Russian remains high in Syria. Based on an analysis of official documents, academic publications and open-source data, this article assesses the results achieved, the existing challenges and the prospects for Russian-Syrian cooperation in linguistic and educational spheres. The article also examines how Russian policy has adapted to changing conditions in Syria since December 2024.

the Russian language, soft power, Russian foreign policy, Syria, international humanitarian cooperation, language policy, Russian-Syrian relations, education abroad, Russkiy Mir