The Role of Non-State Actors in the Linguistic Policy in the Republic of Moldova

Abstract

This article examines the evolving role of non-state actors in the politics of language, using the postSoviet Republic of Moldova as a case study. Over the past half-century, the increasing influence of non-state actors in global political systems has led to shifts not only in international relations but also in domestic policy areas such as language policy. Traditionally the exclusive domain of the state, language policy has become an arena of interaction between the state and various non-state actors, including political parties and non-governmental organizations. This interaction, termed the «politics of language,» extends beyond national borders, particularly in cases where a country's population is linked to kin states. In Moldova, the political landscape is divided between pro-Russian Moldovanists, who advocate for a distinct Moldovan identity and the use of “Moldovan” as the state language, and pro-Romanian Romanianists, who promote Romanian identity and language. The research identifies the key actors in Moldova's language politics and reveals that, during the country's independence, the politics of language has shifted from a conflict between the state and intellectual elites to a more complex set of relations between multiple actors, with Romanianists gaining influence. The role of the state has been significantly weakened, as evidenced by the Constitutional Court's reduced capacity to maintain constitutional stability, becoming instead a tool for non-state actors.