The Routledge Handbook of Language Education and Social Change

The Routledge Handbook of Language Education and Social Change provides a comprehensive, global examination of the role language education plays in fostering positive societal transformation. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected and divided through globalization, migration, displacement, artificial intelligence, and digital communication, language education needs to be more systematically explored and problematized as a key tool in promoting critical intercultural understanding, equity, and social justice in and beyond the classroom. This handbook examines how language education, when seen through a global lens, can be leveraged to better identify and address critical social issues, reduce inequalities, and empower marginalized communities. Drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives from fields such as applied linguistics, education, sociology, and media and cultural studies, the handbook offers theoretical, empirical, and practical insights into how situated initiatives in language education can and have contributed to progressive social change. By bringing together leading and emerging scholars, this volume makes a significant contribution to ongoing debates about the role of language education in fostering more equitable and inclusive societies. This handbook is an invaluable resource for researchers, language educators, policymakers, and post-graduate students in fields such as applied linguistics, language education, TESOL, and sociology.