THE ROLE OF ENGLISH PROFICIENCY IN ACCESSING GLOBAL POLITICAL DISCOURSE: INVESTIGATING HOW PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH AFFECTS POLITICAL SCIENCE STUDENTS' ABILITY TO ENGAGE WITH INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH, JOURNALS, AND CONFERENCES

Abstract

English has become the lingua franca of global academia and international political communication. This thesis explores how English proficiency influences political science students’ engagement with global political discourse—specifically their access to international research, academic journals, and professional conferences. Using a mixed-methods approach involving surveys and interviews with 120 political science students from three universities in non-English-speaking countries, the research reveals that English proficiency significantly impacts academic participation and access to scholarly resources. Students with higher proficiency levels reported increased engagement with English-language journals, greater confidence in presenting at international conferences, and enhanced understanding of global political trends. Conversely, lower proficiency restricted access to current academic debates and diminished opportunities for scholarly collaboration. The study underscores the need for institutional support to improve language skills, thus fostering equitable participation in the global political science community.