Diplomacy has emerged as a central pillar of contemporary television, spanning a vast spectrum from meticulously researched realism to high-stakes political thrillers. Acclaimed European and American series such as The Bureau, Borgen, Madam Secretary, and The Honourable Woman have brought the intricate world of international relations to the forefront. More recently, the professional and personal lives of ambassadors have taken center stage in dedicated dramas like The Deal and The Diplomat .
Occasionally, the gravity of the diplomatic corps is traded for satire in series such as Under Control (Sous contrôle) and Parliament, which playfully subvert the formal solemnity traditionally associated with the field. Between the desire to educate, the necessity of simplification, and the demands of dramatization, how do these fictional portrayals shape our global understanding of international relations?
As a former Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of France, and a career diplomat with fifteen years of experience across the globe, from India to the United States, Dominique de Villepin will provide an expert analysis of the representation of diplomacy in television fiction. Through a curated selection of clips, he will explore the thin line between reality and its fictional mirror on the small screen.
The conversation will be moderated by Thomas Snégaroff, historian and host of Le Grand Face-à-face (France Inter) and C politique (France 5).
