Does French Matter? France and Francophone in the Age of Globalization
Author(s)
Neathery-Castro, Jody; Rousseau, Mark O.
Abstract
What relevance does French hold in a globalized world in which English increasingly constitutes the lingua franca? One organization, the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), acts as a powerful French-speaking voice in defense of French culture and language, and in advancing French-speaking nations’ global interests. France effectively mobilizes the institution behind particular economic concerns it claims global trade rules ignore. While the OIF has become a multilateral force arguing for cultural exceptions to international trade rules, at the same time it reflects vital political and economic interests of its lead members. This article examines the claims pursued by the OIF, the issue of whose interests are being served, and prospects for its future.
