Vestnik RUDN. International RelationsVestnik RUDN. International RelationsВестник Российского университета дружбы народов. Серия: Международные отношения2313-06602313-0679федеральное государственное автономное образовательное учреждение высшего образования «Российский университет дружбы народов имени Патриса Лумумбы» (РУДН)4787210.22363/2313-0660-2025-25-4-580-597ISWEFTTHEMATIC DOSSIERТЕМАТИЧЕСКОЕ ДОСЬЕResearch ArticleThe Role of Presidential Change in the Institutional Transformation of French Cultural Diplomacy in the 21st CenturyРоль смены президента в институциональной трансформации культурной дипломатии Франции в XXI векеhttps://orcid.org/0009-0009-0454-3786VoronovaPolina A.ВороноваПолина Александровна

Digital PR Manager At Yango; Postgraduate Student, Faculty Of Creative Industries

магистрант, факультет креативных индустрий

pavoronova_2@edu.hse.ruhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6740-63777950-2324VarpahovskisEriksВарпаховскисЭрикс

PhD (Political Science), Associate Professor, Faculty of World Economy and International A airs

PhD (политические науки), доцент, факультет мировой экономики и мировой политики

evarpahovskis@hse.ruHSE UniversityНациональный исследовательский университет «Высшая школа экономики»31122025254Humanitarian Aspects of Modern International RelationsГуманитарные аспекты современных международных отношений58059731122025Copyright ©; 2025, Voronova P.A., Varpahovskis E.Copyright ©; 2025, Воронова П.А., Варпаховскис Э.Copyright ©; 2025, Voronova P., Varpahovskis E.2025Voronova P.A., Varpahovskis E.Воронова П.А., Варпаховскис Э.Voronova P., Varpahovskis E.https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0https://journals.rudn.ru/international-relations/article/view/47872

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.

Несмотря на растущий академический интерес к проблематике культурной дипломатии, исследования, посвященные эволюции и трансформации этого явления в одной из наиболее активно практикующих его стран - Франции, остаются ограниченными. Анализ существующей литературы показывает недостаточную фокусировку на институциональных аспектах, хотя именно институциональные преобразования способны приводить к значимым изменениям во внешнеполитическом курсе, влияя на функциональность профильных государственных структур. Исследование направлено на реализацию двух целей: восполнение существующих в научном дискурсе пробелов и выявление взаимосвязи между сменой президентской администрации и институциональными трансформациями в сфере культурной дипломатии. Анализ бюрократических механизмов, задействованных в реализации культурной дипломатии, демонстрирует, что институциональная архитектура Франции в данной области отличается высокой степенью сложности и многоуровневости. Ввиду масштабности и структурной разветвленности этой системы рассмотрение всех возможных преобразований в рамках одной статьи представляется невозможным. В связи с этим используется нисходящий ( top-down ) аналитический подход, предполагающий акцент на изменениях на уровне высших органов государственной власти. Методологическую основу исследования составляет «отслеживание процесса» ( process tracing ), что позволяет проследить причинно-следственные механизмы, связывающие президентский переход с последующими институциональными сдвигами в культурной дипломатии Франции. Полученные результаты подтверждают выдвинутые гипотезы. Первая гипотеза утверждает, что вновь избранный президент способен корректировать существующие механизмы культурной дипломатии. Вторая гипотеза предполагает, что такие институциональные изменения обусловлены несоответствием между сложившейся архитектурой культурной дипломатии и обновленными целями внешней политики, а также видением действующего президента и его команды. Предложена оценка степени и направленности реформ, осуществляемых в сфере культурной дипломатии, и выявлены элементы институциональной преемственности, сохраняющиеся несмотря на политические изменения на высшем уровне.

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