Debating ideas and public issues
From workshops to major forums, the debate of ideas brings together personalities from all sectors to explore the issues affecting societies around the world. These discussions are supported by capacity-building programs for citizen actors, to enable them to take a full part in international debate.
Our missions
The French Institute promotes dialogue between cultures through the debate of ideas and support for young people committed to society. Through the debate of ideas, the Institut français contributes to deepening relations between civil society and French thought with societies around the world, accompanies the international development of circles of knowledge, thought and commitment and participates in the promotion of French humanities and social sciences beyond borders. The Institut français pays particular attention to highlighting initiatives, research and thinking carried out by young people.
Our key programs and major projects
Travel to Ukraine
4 September 2025
Our partners
Local authorities:each year, thanks to the Institut français' agreements with French local authorities, organizations from all over France benefit from support to develop their international research and debate activities, in France or around the world.
Universities, research institutes and think tanks: the Institut français maintains close relations with French public and private research organizations and their branches abroad. The French Institute is committed to showcasing French expertise and in particular emerging voices.
Historical and scientific museums: The mediation of knowledge is a fundamental basis of public debate, and the Institut français works with French organizations that promote historical and scientific culture. In particular, an agreement links the Institut français and Universcience, enabling the Sciences & Actualités exhibitions at the Cité des sciences et de l'industrie to circulate within the French cultural network abroad.
Society and debate newspapers and magazines: the Institut français enables society and debate newspapers and magazines, whether specialized or general press, to gain access to intellectual and social figures from other countries and increase their own reputation abroad.
Civil society organizations: Through a close relationship with numerous civil society organizations, the programs supported by the Institut Français guarantee the representativeness, diversity and renewal of French voices in the debate of ideas abroad. These organizations cover a wide range of fields and come in all sizes, from local citizens' associations to major French NGOs.
Centre National du Livre: Supporting the translation of French works into foreign languages is an essential tool for promoting French humanities and social sciences around the world. The Institut français facilitates this translation through its Programme d'Aide à la Publication, which makes it easier for foreign publishers to buy the rights to works, and sits on the Centre National du Livre's Extraduction SHS commission, which contributes to translation costs.