LANGUAGE POLICY AS A NATIONAL SECURITY FACTOR: THE EXPERIENCE OF MODERN STATES

This article examines language policy as a key component of national security in contemporary states. Based on the Copenhagen Schoolʼs framework, language is analyzed as a factor closely linked to social cohesion, national identity, information-cognitive security, and state sovereignty. Language policy is analyzed not only as a linguistic process but also as an instrument of political legitimacy, domestic mobilization, and geopolitical projection. The study integrates theories of language planning, linguistic imperialism, and soft power to explain both internal and external functions of language policy. Through a comparative approach, the experiences of Uzbekistan, Russia, Kazakhstan, France, and China are examined, and major models of language policy are identified. The findings indicate that in the context of globalization and information warfare, language policy significantly affects identity stability and cognitive security. Strategic directions for strengthening language security in Uzbekistan are proposed.