The Francophonies symposium held at Odense University in March 1997, questioned the very nature and identity of francophonia. The standing of francophonia depends on a willingness to acknowledge the linguistic diversity of francophile nations. The sharing of a common language, French, forms the nodal point for mutual cooperation and solidarity. It is not so much a question of preserving the French language, but of weaving it into an active multilingualism with the aim of blocking linguistic uniformity.
Dialogue between North and South may therefore lead us not only to pose questions about culture or cultures, but also to reflect on politics; in its economic and political aspect, it can broach the question of individual rights. It is in this sense that L.S. Senghor’s reflection on francophonia’s sphere of influence makes real sense. "...the most coherent and complete attempt at universal civilisation for the future".
Contributors: Tahar Bekri, University of Paris-Nanterre; Jacques Caron, Odense University, Gérard Lehmann, Odense University; Michèle Rakotoson, Radio Internationale France; Ole Wehner Rasmussen, Aarhus University; Marie-Alice Séférian; André Théberge, Cinèaste, Montreal; Laurent Thyssen, The French Embassy, Copenhagen.
