The Restitution of African Cultural Heritage as a Tool of French Cultural Diplomacy Under Emmanuel Macron

This bachelor’s thesis examined the French policy of restitution of African cultural heritage during the presidency of Emmanuel Macron and its implications for contemporary international relations. The main objective was to determine whether this policy represented a genuine postcolonial rupture or rather a reformulation of traditional French cultural diplomacy and soft power. The study addressed a gap in the existing literature, which has remained fragmented and often analytically unbalanced. The research was designed as a qualitative single-case study grounded in postcolonial theory and complemented by elements of critical discourse analysis. The analysis drew on primary sources, including the Sarr–Savoy report and presidential speeches, as well as academic and media debates. Particular attention was paid to identifying the discursive strategies shaping the interpretation of restitution policies. The findings revealed that restitution policy is constructed through two competing narratives. The official discourse framed it as a moral act, a tool of reconciliation, and a foundation for a new “relational ethics.” In contrast, critical perspectives interpreted it as a strategic instrument of cultural diplomacy that reproduces neocolonial asymmetries within a new linguistic framework. The analysis demonstrated that these narratives intersect and jointly shape the overall understanding of the policy.The thesis concluded that restitution does not constitute a clear-cut rupture but rather a hybrid phenomenon combining elements of transformation and continuity. Its significance lies primarily in the evolution of cultural diplomacy and the opening of space for redefining postcolonial relations. The main contribution of this work is a balanced interpretation of restitution within international relations and an emphasis on the role of discourse in shaping political reality.