European influence on diversity policy frames: paradoxical outcomes of Lyon's membership of the Intercultural Cities programme

Abstract

This paper examines the formulation of policy frames towards new minorities in France by analysing Lyon's membership of the European Commission's and Council of Europe's Intercultural Cities programme (ICP). Here, with culture accounting for 20% of Lyon's budget, emphasis is placed on the adoption of the Charte de Coopération Culturelle to use cultural institutions to implement difference-orientated policies. Critically, important issues emerge with this strategy. The effort to engage new minorities is hampered by significant apathy from cultural institutions in Lyon, and the limited geographical area of Lyon included in the ICP. Finally, institutions who engage with promoting interculturality co-opt existing organizations, with negative implications for the treatment of diversity in the city. This illustrates the problems with a European framework fostering a policy frame based on recognition for minorities in a context that has yet to fully embrace such policies at the national level.

Keywords:

• France
• Europe
• policy
• diversity
• intercultural

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. Marseille Espérance brings together the leaders of Marseille's principle religious communities to discuss social issues and to mediate inter-communal disputes.

2. The loi du 1er juillet 1901 regulates the creation of associations of more than two people who must be non-profit making and separate from both church and state.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Joseph Downing

DR JOSEPH DOWNING is Guest Teacher at the European Institute and LSE100 Fellow in Nationalism, London School of Economics and Political Science.