Cultural diplomacy and national construction : consuls, diplomats and transfers. France and Colombia, 1830-1880. ; Diplomacia cultural y construcción nacional : agentes consulares, agentes diplomáticos y transferencias. Francia y Colombia 1830-1880 ; Diplomatie culturelle et construction nationale : agents consulaires, agents diplomatiques et transferts. La France et la Colombie 1830-1880

Abstract

Colombia has had long-standing, vibrant and active diplomatic relations with France, particularly as regards analysis in the XIX century. Relations between France and Colombia historically have been extensive and have strengthened considerably between 1830 and 1880. This study aims to portrait these efforts throughout an analysis of three essential elements that enhance the capacity of state institutions, nation-building and external interventions. Diplomatic agents or government representatives are the first and main key of this study as they encourage cooperation between nations through their official and working visits (geographical location), diplomatic missions and their career influence. The second element illustrates how in these multilateral missions, the usefulness of memoirs and written publications compile the main character of diplomacy and nation construction. Thus, the written information that contains events and crucial data of how national representation was built and conveyed. Furthermore, this study enables to elucidate how Foreign Service officers engage in creating and maintaining lasting international ties in order to protect their country's interest abroad and how these relations affect and impact the process of nation building and identity. This third element depicts the imperative role of diplomat agents in understanding countries practices, cultural, political, social and economic views and bonds.The first part of this work points the consuls and diplomats who were in charge to deploy a kind of international relationship with a State for the very first time. For the French consuls Colombia was a new nation issue from the Spanish colonial power and France was a European power which could be a help for the construction of the Colombian nation.The second part of this thesis analyses the intellectual production of these consuls and diplomats. We focus our attention to the ideas and the way they could create a transatlantic dialogue. This kind of circulation created a net which was more ...