A Model for Maintaining Cultural Relevance in French Overseas Territories

Faculty Sponsor

Stacy Hoult-Saros

College

Arts and Sciences

Discipline(s)

Political Science, Humanitarian Aid, Philanthropy, France, French Guinea, Algeria

Presentation Type

Oral Presentation

Symposium Date

Spring 4-29-2021

Abstract

French Overseas territories have different social, economic, and cultural identities and yet are often treated in the same way that France is. In this paper, I look at two different historically French territories: Algeria, which is now independent, and French Guiana which is still connected to the Métropole France. By examining the language and cultural identities of these territories, it is evident that there are major gaps in their treatment as post-colonial entities. One of the areas in which both territories lack cultural autonomy is in their education systems. I seek to find a solution that allows for greater access to education in these regions, through both language empowerment and local history and arts education. This paper seeks to find a model that is most effective in ameliorating and rejuvenating the cultural autonomy in these countries by understanding root causes and in particular their current and past relationship to France.

Biographical Information about Author(s)

Miranda Engholm is a French and Global Service double Major with a minor in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). She is passionate about empowering vulnerable communities. While studying abroad in France she became interested in French Overseas Territories, and this paper combines her passion for education and other cultures in order to get to the root causes and gaps in Algeria and French Guiana respectively. In the future, she hopes to work alongside marginalized communities, empowering them whether at home or abroad.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS