Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie

Abstract

Abstract In 1946, the French Fourth Republic (1946–58) replaced the defunct French Empire, and the Union Française (French Union) granted French citizenship and political representation to its colonies in an effort to maintain them under its control. The French Fifth Republic (1958), created in the turmoil of the decolonization process, in an attempt to forestall the move toward independence of its colonies, replaced the French Union with the Communauté Française (French Community). Eventually, the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (henceforth OIF; www.francophonie.org ) emerged in the 1960s, in the wake of the decolonization process that had led to the dismantling of the French Community. The impetus for the founding of the organization came from former colonies wanting to retain their association with France. This entry provides some information on the historical background of the OIF, explains its gradual growth and the development of its policies, and assesses its present contribution.

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