Power of Language: The Impact of Multilingual Recognition on Political Participation among Linguistic Minorities

Ryotaro Yamana and Ryo Takahashi
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Ryotaro Yamana: School of Political Science and Economics, Waseda University

No 2511, Working Papers from Waseda University, Faculty of Political Science and Economics

Abstract: This study investigates whether symbolic inclusion can promote political participation among linguistic minorities. Leveraging Zimbabwe’s 2013 multilingual policy as a quasi-experimental setting, we examine the effects of the official recognition of minority languages on political participation and its underlying mechanisms. Using a difference-in-differences model, we find that the policy increased voter turnout among linguistic minorities by approximately 10 percentage points, with particularly strong effects observed among rural residents and women. Mechanism analysis suggests that this behavioral change was not driven by increased feelings of social inclusion, but rather by improved perceptions of democracy and political freedom, which enhanced the perceived legitimacy of electoral participation. These findings underscore the potential of symbolic inclusion policies—such as multilingual reforms—to strengthen institutional connectivity and foster democratic engagement among historically marginalized groups.

Keywords: nation building; ethnic minority; language (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 27 pages
Date: 2025-05
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