Charlie Hanabuchi

Russia in a Stratified Multipolar Linguistic Order I. Introduction: The Question of Placement In a world increasingly characterized by civilizational self-assertion and structural multipolarity, the hierarchy of languages has become analytically significant. English remains the dominant operational language of global coordination; classical languages such as Classical Chinese, Sanskrit, and Arabic anchor civilizational depth in distinct regions; regional lingua francas consolidate influence within intermediate spheres. The question, then, is not merely geopolitical but civilizational and linguistic: into which category does Russia fall? Russia presents a complex case. It is not a global linguistic hegemon. Nor is it a marginal or peripheral linguistic actor. It possesses a historically dense literary and philosophical tradition, a legacy of imperial multilingual governance, and a regional sphere of influence extending across Eurasia. Yet its language does not function as a global meta-...

Language, Civilizational Depth, and Elite Formation in a Multipolar World I. Introduction: The Return of the Civilizational Question The history of elite formation is inseparable from the history of language hierarchy. At different moments, Latin, French, Persian, Classical Chinese, and Arabic each functioned as transregional media through which authority was codified, knowledge was transmitted, and legitimacy was performed. In the contemporary world, English occupies a position of extraordinary reach. It is the principal language of scientific publication, international finance, multilateral governance, aviation, digital infrastructure, and elite higher education. No prior prestige language has achieved comparable global saturation. Yet the present moment differs structurally from the eras that elevated Latin or French. The international system is no longer consolidating around a single imperial or civilizational center. It is fragmenting into a multipolar order characterized by civil...