Abstract:

The absence of a clear definition which would attribute to Francophonie more precise boundaries, and therefore less ambiguous usage, constitutes without doubt one of the principle reasons for its quasi-invisibility on the international scene. If there is a specific dynamic to southern Francophonie, principally in the countries of sub-Saharan Africa, it is nevertheless in the multilingual situation of Europe that French and Francophonie are playing out their destinies. It would seem obvious that only an alliance with the other languages on the continent, in particular German, can protect the aspirations of a community whose long term survival is inconceivable in the face of the decline of the language unites it.


To read the text in french (pdf)