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.
France’s Home Away from Home in Pondicherry, India
An Animation
Watch and learn about the history of the curious french town in India today through an insightful animation illustrated by Becca Newman.
The Tug of War Over French in Canada
This chapter examines the tensions between Canada and Quebec over French language diplomacy, highlighting two competing strategies: Canada’s federal promotion of bilingualism as a unifying soft power tool and Quebec’s use of French to assert its distinct identity and autonomy. Through historical analysis, policy discussion, and expert insights, the essay explores how these conflicting approaches shape Canada’s domestic and international influence within the Francophone world.
The French Side of Saint Martin
An Educational Vlog
Educational Vlog Coming Soon
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New Orleans and the Ghosts of French Colonialism
This chapter examines New Orleans as a lasting symbol of French colonialism in “The New World.” From its origins in New France to the Louisiana Purchase and the rise of English dominance, the city has remained a hub of French cultural influence. Despite political shifts and language decline, French heritage endures in New Orleans’ architecture, cuisine, festivals, and traditions, shaping its distinct identity within both the United States and the Francophone world.
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Language, Power, and Privilege in Morocco
This chapter explores the politics of language in Morocco, where French remains a symbol of power and privilege despite decades of independence. Introduced during the French Protectorate (1912–1956), French continues to dominate education, administration, and economic opportunities, reinforcing class divisions. While Arabization policies and the recognition of Tamazight sought to reclaim linguistic identity, French persists as the elite language, though English and Amazigh activism are increasingly challenging its dominance.
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The French Blueprint in Vietnam
This chapter examines France’s colonial past in Vietnam, from its rule under French Indochina (1887–1954) to its lasting cultural and diplomatic influence. While French control reshaped Vietnam’s politics, economy, and education, it also fueled nationalist movements that led to independence. Today, France maintains ties through soft power, trade, and education, but its influence is waning as Vietnam shifts toward global powers like the U.S. and China.
Up next…
THE ART of Influence
Grandeur and Rhetoric in Shaping France’s Global Image
Phonetics and Sound as Persuasive Tools in French Rhetoric
The “French Aesthetic”