Organisation internationale de la Francophonie

Francophonie (Latin; often Francophonie ) is defined as the totality of the French-speaking ( Francophone ) means States, so the French -speaking world. This includes conditions of very different nature: countries in which French is the official language, countries in which French is the mother tongue, and those countries where French is language of instruction.

The International Organization of La Francophonie (French Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, OIF) includes not only France, a group of former French colonies today still maintain more or less cultural, linguistic, and certainly political contact with the former colonial power ( see also Commonwealth ) and others. With the inclusion of countries like Moldova or Bulgaria, the organization has long ceased cultural alliance more, but also a political organization.

The Francophonie comprises approximately 220 million French - speakers ( including approximately 115 million native speakers) in a total of 57 Member States. Of these, three states - Armenia, Ghana and Cyprus - associate members. In addition, 20 other countries have observer status: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Mozambique, Austria, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Thailand, Czech Republic, Hungary, Ukraine, Uruguay, United Arab Emirates.

Development

In 1871 the term Francophone geographers from Onésime Reclus ( 1837-1916 ) was used for the first time.

International breakthrough reached the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF ), especially under the chairmanship of former UN Secretary-General Boutros- Ghali 1997 to 2002.

The government Chirac / Villepin had written the struggle against the hegemony of English on their banner. The then Minister of Culture Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres drove two things are progressing: a French-speaking global news channel (after the CNN model ) and a special search engine (in general and for the digitization of libraries, see Google books). During the first project first appeared made ​​to fail, the receivable in both French and English France 24 has now gone on the air. But also for his second project won Culture Minister de Vabres a ( cautious ) support of other Europeans. However, there is a lack of money.

In 2013, the Minister of Culture Geneviève Fioraso allowed the teaching in English in some classes of state universities after private (economic) universities and the grandes écoles for years used an applicable exemption. The decree led, as always on such occasions, for a guided high pitched sounds debate on the importance of the Francophonie today. Members of the Académie française spoke of " unprecedented impoverishment and marginalization " of French, other professors summoned the " end of the French universal culture" that France would be a " linguistic province under guardianship ." Another voice warned: ". Fioraso wants to force that is taught in the language of Wall Street," The deputy in the National Assembly Pouria Amirshahi, representatives of the resident outside France French in North and West Africa, warned that it was France's mission, " the French language in the world to defend. " Others said the plan violated the Toubon law for the protection of the Francophonie in 1994. However Fioraso remained successful.

Members

The official list of Member States can be found on the website of the organization internationale de la Francophonie. List by continent:

Europe

  • Albania Albania
  • Andorra Andorra
  • Belgium and in addition the French Community of Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Switzerland Switzerland
  • Cyprus Republic of Cyprus
  • France France
  • Greece Greece
  • Luxembourg Luxembourg
  • Moldova Moldova
  • Montenegro Montenegro
  • Macedonia Macedonia
  • Monaco Monaco
  • Romania Romania
  • Observational function: Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Estonia Estonia
  • Georgia Georgia
  • Croatia Croatia
  • Latvia Latvia
  • Lithuania Lithuania
  • Macedonia Macedonia
  • Montenegro Montenegro
  • Austria Austria
  • Poland Poland
  • Serbia Serbia
  • Slovakia Slovakia
  • Slovenia Slovenia
  • Czech Republic Czech Republic
  • Ukraine Ukraine
  • Hungary Hungary

North and South America

  • Canada Canada New Brunswick New Brunswick (participating government )
  • Quebec City Quebec (participating government )
  • Ontario Ontario (observer, any candidate )
  • Martinique Martinique
  • Saint- Pierre and Miquelon Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Africa

  • Benin Benin
  • Burkina Faso Burkina Faso
  • Burundi Burundi
  • Republic of Congo Republic of Congo
  • Chad Chad
  • Ivory Coast Ivory Coast
  • Cameroon Cameroon
  • Democratic Republic of Congo Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Comoros Comoros
  • Cape Verde Cape Verde
  • Djibouti Djibouti
  • Egypt Egypt
  • Gabon Gabon
  • Guinea- Bissau Guinea- Bissau
  • Ghana Ghana
  • Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea
  • Guinea Guinea
  • Madagascar Madagascar
  • Morocco Morocco
  • Mali Mali
  • Mauritius Mauritius
  • Mauritania Mauritania
  • Niger Niger
  • Rwanda Rwanda
  • Senegal Senegal
  • Seychelles Seychelles
  • Sao Tome and Principe Sao Tome and Principe
  • Togo Togo
  • Tunisia Tunisia
  • Central African Republic Central African Republic
  • Observational function: Mozambique Mozambique

Asia

  • Armenia Armenia
  • Cambodia Cambodia
  • Laos Laos
  • Lebanon Lebanon
  • Vietnam
  • Observational function: Thailand Thailand

Oceania

  • Vanuatu Vanuatu

To spread the French language

Some data on the use of the French language:

  • About 900,000 teachers teach French language worldwide.
  • French is the official language or one of several official languages ​​in 32 countries.
  • French is the second most common mother tongue of the EU citizens ( according to German ).
  • French is the second most common language employed (19%) in the EU authorities (after English with 41%)
  • French is the third most common Internet language is within the EU (after English and German ).

See also role of French in individual countries

French is the official language, inter alia, in:

  • The United Nations and many of its sub-organizations
  • The Euro Europe
  • The European Court
  • The World Trade Organization (WTO )
  • The International Labour Organisation ( ILO)
  • The World Health Organization (WHO )
  • The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ( OECD)
  • The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO )
  • The organization of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
  • The Universal Postal Union (UPU, Union Postale Universelle )
  • The International Olympic Committee (IOC )

The 57 OIF States represent:

  • 8.1% of the world population
  • 29% of UN Member States
  • 4.2% of the world's gross national income ( 2010)
Colonial empire Jacques Chirac Council of Europe
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