To celebrate 120 years of the Entente Cordiale, the School of Global Affairs in Lancaster University and the Alliance Française de Manchester invited students to learn more about this historical event with an exhibition hosted in the Roundhouse from the 14th to the 25th of October. We also held a special evening on Thursday, 17th of October with a roundtable to discuss the Entente Cordiale and Anglo-French political relationships more widely.

The Entente Cordiale was a series of 1904 agreements between France and the UK designed to improve Anglo-French relations. Professor Gaynor Johnson from the Department of History spoke about the legacy of the Entente and how, while still being operable and fundamental, it has always been subject to underground fault lines. Her analysis was echoed by Dr Martin Steven from the Department of Politics, Philosophy & Religion whose research interests lie in European Union politics. He traced some of the tensions in Anglo French relations, and historical moments of great distrust. The School of Global Affairs was represented by Olga Gomez-Cash, herself a graduate of European Studies who has lived in both France and the UK, chaired the roundtable, and brought to it her lived experience of diplomatic relations between France, Spain, and the UK.

The following discussion ranged widely from the long political build up to Brexit throughout the twentieth century, the differences between press behaviour in France and the UK, the impacts of the long history of French socialism in the UK and the challenges of the instabilities of our times.

This event was also a helpful reminder of the international context in which these two countries agreed to put hundreds of years of arguments aside. They did so at a time when the French and British colonial empires were probably at their peak and tensions in Europe were on the rise. 120 years on, we live in a different world – a multipolar, multicultural, and multifaceted one, but we are also facing our own crucial challenges for the future of the planet. The discussion between the speakers reflected on the power of transcultural understanding in ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard and how the Entente Cordiale is a timely reminder to harness what brings us together rather than focus on our differences.

Happy anniversary Marianne and Britannia, and here is to the next 120 years!

The School of Global Affairs is grateful to the Alliance Française de Manchester for the generous loan of the exhibition.

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