Делатност и чланство француско-српских удружења почетком 20. века
Activities and Membership of the French-Serbian Associations in the Early 20th Century

Summary/Abstract: This paper – through documents such as Allocation à la Paroisse catholique de Belgrade, Rules of the French Club – Statuts du Club Français 1903, Statuts de la Réunion française de Belgrade 1904 and RAPORT de Réunion Française de Belgrade Presenté à l’Assemblée générale annuelle le 4/17 février 1907 – illuminates the role of the French-Serbian associations in Serbia at the beginning of the 20th century. Documents present the establishment, financing and membership of the French-Serbian association, launched to promote the French language and culture. Their activities and membership are visible through the lens of French interests in the Balkans and the Franco-Serbian relations, which enables the identification of the French model of cultural diplomacy and the use of “soft power”. Since the beginning of the 20th century French diplomats highlighted the need for fostering French culture in Serbia. The establishment of associations for popularization of the French language and culture was a significant contribution to spreading French culture in Serbia. French books, newspapers and magazines, as well as sending scholars to other countries, which was supported by the French state, was the path of the development of modern cultural diplomacy. Alliance française, founded on the initiative of the French elite with the aim of achieving the political goals of France, also increased the scope of its activities in Serbia. French diplomats in Belgrade proposed more systematic activities in the field of cultural influence in Serbia. Since the beginning of the 20th century, France supported Franco-Serbian cultural associations, and cultural diplomacy occupied a key position in the Franco-Serbian relations. Documents presented here are stored in the Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France and they testify to the membership and activities of the Club Français and Réunion Française de Belgrade that operated in the early years of the reign of King Petar I Karadjordjević, a former French student and combatant in the Franco-Prussian War.

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