FRENCH

LANGUAGE

DIPLOMACY AS

SOFT POWER

A multi-media exploration of France’s global influence through language as a tool of soft power.

Senior Capstone

Letter from the Editor 

Bonjour! Thanks for stopping by my senior capstone project. For my Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies with a concentration in Global Justice and Human Rights, I wanted to bring together my two minors—French and Fine Arts—to create a compelling visual narrative on France’s cultural diplomacy. This project explores how France strategically uses language and cultural identity as tools of soft power, weaving its influence across the world. From revolutionary ideals and colonial expansion to modern policies that are more subtle yet deeply lasting, I examine why France invests so heavily in this approach and how these methods continue to evolve in today’s shifting world.

How I got here

My fascination with cultural diplomacy comes from both academic and personal experiences. I first discovered my love for self-expression through studying fashion, where I became intrigued by how art and aesthetics shape identity. Shifting to global studies deepened that passion, fueling my curiosity about different cultures and how identity is formed on a global scale.  But everything changed when I studied in France and traveled to over a dozen countries in just four months. It opened my eyes to how deeply French influence is woven into global culture—sometimes subtle, sometimes impossible to miss. This project is a reflection of those experiences, blending my academic research—both in and beyond the classroom—with my passion for storytelling and cross-cultural connections.

What You’ll Find Here

This research comes to life on a multimedia website, where each section explores a different facet of French language diplomacy. You can navigate it like a book, moving through each chapter in order, or jump to whatever piques your interest. Every visual element—photography, videography, and illustrations—is my own, designed to make complex themes more accessible and engaging. My goal is to offer a fresh perspective on how France’s cultural legacy continues to shape global politics today.

Looking Ahead

This project is just the beginning. Beyond my capstone, I hope to expand this platform into a space for future research, travel insights, and conversations on international relations. Merci beaucoup for being part of this journey! I hope it gives you new insights and a fresh perspective on the power of culture in global affairs. But enough from me! Dive in and explore how language and identity continue to shape our world!

table of contents

“SOFT POWER IS

THE ABILITY TO

GET WHAT YOU

WANT THROUGH

ATTRACTION RATHER

THAN COERCION

OR PAYMENTS.”

— JOSEPH S. NYE

Soft Power: The Means to Success in World Politics (2004)

THE FOUNDATIONS

part one

of french language diplomacy as a form of soft power

For centuries, France has exerted their language as a tool of influence, identity, and power. From its status as Europe’s diplomatic lingua franca in the 17th century to its role in colonial rule, French has long symbolized prestige on the global stage. Policies cemented its dominance in governance, while treaties solidified its place in diplomacy. As France’s empire declined, its linguistic influence evolved into soft power. Institutions dedicated to French education, governance, and cultural diplomacy ensured the language remained a force in global affairs.

This section explores the origins of French linguistic influence and how it transformed into a primary instrument of global power today.

part two

GLOBAL FOOTPRINT

France’s influence extends far beyond its borders. From the Americas to Africa and Asia, it has strategically adapted French language diplomacy to different regions, shaping its global presence in lasting ways.

This section uses multimedia storytelling through essays, video, and illustrations to explore how France spread its language and culture across seven key regions through case studies—though its reach extends even further. While the French Empire seizes to exist in the form of hard power and military force, its influence continues to grow today, but in a new form.

part three

THE ART OF INFLUENCE

France’s influence isn’t enforced—it’s crafted. Through the arts, language, and rhetoric, it has built a global image of grandeur and sophistication, carefully shaped by diplomacy, aesthetics, and cultural prestige.

The French language itself plays a crucial role, positioned as one of diplomacy and power, its sounds evoking refinement and authority. France has cultivated an identity where elegance and prestige are inseparable from its language. This section explores the strategies behind that influence, from the rhetoric that defines France’s global standing to the visual aesthetics that continue to symbolize status and sophistication.

part four

CONTESTED LEGACY

Voices from the Ground

French influence means different things to different people—a privilege, an opportunity, or a remnant of colonization. Each perspective continues to shape its power and impact in different ways. This section brings together local voices, firsthand experiences, and expert insights, spanning the full spectrum of French language diplomacy as soft power to examine how it is experienced, challenged, and redefined.

For some, speaking French is a gateway to opportunity—a tool for mobility, education, and cultural connection. For others, it represents a history of inequality, reinforcing structures of power that persist today. Does the language open doors, or does it uphold old hierarchies? And as global power dynamics shift, who truly controls the narrative?

As this study comes to a close, these voices offer a final reflection on the evolving role of French cultural diplomacy. One truth remains—language is never neutral. Its meaning is shaped by those who speak it, those who teach it, and those who hold the power to define it.

voices from the ground

  • To me, language is culture—there's no separation between the two. I think they are completely linked together, and that in itself is a tool of soft power. It becomes a complete representation of what you are, who you are, and what you do.

    — Philippe Poirier, Director of Alliances Francaise of Philadelphia

  • French is more than just a language for me. It connects me to my past, to places I have lived, and to what I want to do in the future. It helps me remember where I came from and lets me help others who are in tough situations like I was.

    — Nasser Otmani

  • France is the only ally who has always been our ally. We have never gone to war against France. We have against the UK because that was our revolution. But we have never fought France. So France kind of sees its role as like sibling rivalry, right? Like, ‘I got your back, but also don’t tread on me.’

    — Brenda Dyer, French Program Director and Professor at Drexel University

  • Every French speaker has some responsibility to keep the language alive—whether by speaking it, teaching it, or promoting it. But whether that will be enough to sustain its global influence? I don’t know.

    — Alan Arbert

  • Now that I am in the United States, I realize how much of an advantage it was to have studied in a French high school. It allows me to easily connect with people from France and other French-speaking countries, as I was from France myself in terms of education and culture. This has been a huge asset, both socially and academically.

    — Mohamed Ezzarhouni

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!

FRENCH LANGUAGE

DIPLOMACY AS

SOFT POWER

Senior Capstone

Department of Global Studies & Modern Languages

By Becca Newman | Drexel University | Advised by Joel Oestreich