Les Belles étrangères (1987–2010): cultural policy and France’s literary cultural diplomacy

Based on documentary research conducted at the National Archives of France and the Bibliothèque nationale de France, we document the case of Les Belles Étrangères, a literary festival organized in France. Over more than two decades, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Centre national du livre (National Book Centre, CNL), cultural associations, and publishers collaborated to create a yearly event that promoted cultural dialogue and exchange through literature, using books and their French translations as a catalyst for talks and cultural programming. Like most commentaries and case studies on cultural diplomacy, this paper highlights how literary initiatives are linked to broad values and long-term gains in cultural cooperation. It also underscores the role of cultural industry politics in shaping cultural diplomacy. Cultural diplomacy, in this case, was not the program’s original purpose, but gradually it became a defining function—an instance of mission drift shaped by a shared understanding of translation’s potential to foster cultural relationships that extend beyond technical exchange.