The Role of Presidential Change in the Institutional Transformation of French Cultural Diplomacy in the 21st Century

Despite the growing academic interest in the field of cultural diplomacy, research of how this phenomenon evolves and transforms in one of its most prolific users, France, remains limited. A review of the literature on cultural diplomacy reveals a paucity of attention to institutional aspects, despite institutional reforms having the potential to effect transformative changes in foreign policy by altering the functionality of relevant agencies. Our study aims to close previously unaddressed research gaps and determine the relationship between the changes in presidential administration and institutional transformations in the context of cultural diplomacy. An analysis of the bureaucratic mechanisms associated with cultural diplomacy reveals that France’s institutional structure for carrying out cultural diplomacy is complex and multi-layered. Given the complexity and scope of this structure, it is not feasible to examine all the transformations in one paper. Therefore, a top-down approach has been adopted, with a focus on changes at the higher echelons of power. The present study utilizes process tracing as its methodological foundation to examine the relationship between the presidential transition in France and subsequent shifts in cultural diplomacy. The study provides evidence to support two proposed hypotheses. The first hypothesis posits that the newly elected president is capable of influencing the existing mechanisms of France’s cultural diplomacy. The second hypothesis indicates that these transformations occur due to discrepancies between the inherited structure of France’s cultural diplomacy and the updated requirements and goals of the country’s foreign policy, as well as the vision of the incumbent president or members of his team. Additionally, the study presents observations regarding the degree and scale of reforms in the context of cultural diplomacy, as well as legacy trends.