Québec on the World Stage: Examining a Provincial Approach to Cultural Diplomacy

Cultural diplomacy is typically viewed as a state activity; however, substate actors shape the practice in significant ways. This article employs a neo-institutional policy analysis to explore how the provincial government of Québec advanced its cultural diplomacy, while engaging with the Canadian federal government, as well as international actors. Acknowledging overlapping claims on the cultural sector in Canada, we provide a chronological assessment of key cultural policy statements from Québec dating from the mid-twentieth century to present, placing these in context with federal developments. This assessment allows us to explore moments of friction when Québec’s efforts at global engagement challenged federal jurisdiction. Our examination argues for recognition of Québec’s mobilization of culture as a substate actor and asserts that the province benefits from both substate and state cultural diplomacy initiatives.