Language as a foreign policy factor of Russia's presence on the African continent: on the issue of effective channels for promoting the Russian language (using the example of the Republic of Kenya)

Abstract

The article examines the main areas of cooperation between Russia and Africa: trade and economic, labor migration, etc. The author emphasizes that today there is a weak understanding of Russia and opportunities in business, professional, educational and other fields on the African continent. Learning the Russian language will help to form a positive image of Russia and an understanding of its culture and historical specifics. In this case, the language will act as a foreign policy actor of Russia's presence on the African continent and will become one of the key instruments for lobbying the country's interests. This is especially important in those African regions that are classified as "socialist unoriented" and where Russian is not included in the general education curriculum as a second foreign language. These countries include the Republic of Kenya. The relevance of the study is related to the identification of effective channels of information and positioning that can be used to promote the Russian language and create a positive image of Russia among Kenyans. The results of large-scale sociological research conducted in the Republic of Kenya are used to justify the choice of information channels that are most effective in terms of coverage and targeting. The purpose of the study involves solving the following tasks: 1) to study the peculiarities of language policy in different countries; 2) to analyze the position of the Russian language and the image of Russia on the African continent and in the Republic of Kenya; 3) to identify the most popular traditional media and new media among Kenyans.; 4) identify effective channels for informing, promoting the Russian language and creating a positive image of Russia in the Republic of Kenya. The conducted research will allow using the identified effective channels for informing, promoting the Russian language and forming a positive image of Russia both in the Republic of Kenya and in other regions of the African continent.