LANGUAGE POLICY IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS: HOW TERMINOLOGY AFFECTS THE BALANCE OF POWER (SCO, CSTO, UN)

Abstract

Abstract. This article explores how language and terminology influence the distribution of power in international organizations. Using the cases of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), and the United Nations (UN), it demonstrates that word choice in official documents is not merely a technical issue but a significant instrument of political influence. Through comparative document analysis, it was found that China’s growing influence within the SCO is accompanied by an expansion of Chinese-origin terminology, Russian remains dominant within the CSTO, and English continues to prevail in the UN. These dynamics create interpretative inequalities among member states. Particular attention is devoted to the challenges faced by smaller countries, such as Kyrgyzstan, which must navigate this linguistic competition while protecting their diplomatic interests. The study’s scientific novelty lies in identifying the linguistic and political mechanisms through which terminology shapes power discourse. The practical significance of this research lies in proposing a strategy for harmonizing diplomatic terminology to strengthen the linguistic sovereignty of small states.

Keywords: language policy, terminology, international organizations, SCO, CSTO, UN, balance of power, soft power, discourse.