Global competencies, with differences in terminology by various researchers, had been frequently investigated, primarily from an American-biased perspective. Little or no defining research existed that identified requisite, universally agreed upon global competencies, or identified what affective components were perceived to be important cross culturally. This research study answered the following questions: 1. What affective components are perceived to be important from a cross-cultural perspective? 2. Are there differences in these perceptions of affective components from a cross-cultural perspective? The purpose of the study was to explore the extent to which individuals in different GeoCultural regions view and identify affective components perceived to be important in today's global society. Affective components relate to emotions, values, and beliefs. The research entailed the development of two instruments for placing individuals within a primary region (the background information form) and for identifying and rating affective components perceived to be important in today's global society from a cross-cultural perspective (the affective component questionnaire). The study used four expert panels to perform content validation. Both instruments were developed by global experts from eight GeoCultural regions. As a result of the panel process, nine affective components were identified. Two instruments were administered, through intermediaries, to individuals in all the GeoCultural regions and subcategories. Of the responses, 423 were usable. Affective competence appears to be a complex construct that involves more than one component. Based on this study, there are at least nine different affective components perceived to be important in order to be a culturally competent individual in today's global society. All of the nine affective components were perceived to be important in all GeoCultural regions and subcategories. Repeated measures ANOVA and Dunn's pairwise comparisons tests were used to assess differences between the affective components and the GeoCultural regions/subcategories. There were differences found in three of the affective components indicating that there may be some differences between GeoCultural regions and subcategories. The Caribbean respondents did not value three affective components as highly as some of the other GeoCultural regions. Repeated measures ANOVAs were also used to determine if there were any significant differences between the subcategories of Asia and the subcategories of Oceania. Since no significant differences existed in either GeoCultural region, it lends support to the notion that the subcategories are not needed for research dealing with affective components.

Depuis 1986, face aux mutations du contexte interne et international, la Francophonie poursuit et accentue la prise en compte d’objectifs politiques et noue l’ambition de devenir un acteur influent des relations internationales. Pour ce faire, elle n’a cessé de s’élargir et de se doter progressivement des moyens institutionnels et normatifs nécessaires. Aujourd’hui, son rôle politique commence à être reconnu. Elle est devenue un laboratoire d’un système international multipolaire en formation et d’une autre mondialisation humaniste. Elle est, aussi, un nouvel acteur et interlocuteur politique de ses membres en matière de démocratie, de droits de l’Homme ainsi que de prévention et de règlement des conflits. Pourtant, plusieurs défis stratégiques et le manque de moyens l’empêchent de devenir un acteur de premier plan et les « acquis » de ses actions demeurent fragiles. Face à cette situation, il est important pour la Francophonie, dans la perspective du nouveau Cadre stratégique décennal (2015-2024), de redéfinir sa stratégie. L’avenir de la Francophonie peut épouser, en effet, plusieurs scénarios. Doit-elle évoluer vers une vraie organisation politique en abandonnant les autres volets de son engagement et en particulier les volets solidarité et développement ? Doit–elle, au contraire, fidèle à sa spécificité, conjuguer étroitement, sans renoncer à aucune, ses missions de dialogue, de solidarité et de développement ? Avant tout, il convient qu’elle redevienne conquérante. De toute façon, il apparait indispensable de la rendre utile aux peuples francophones et de renforcer l’adhésion de ceux-ci par le vivre ensemble. Deux chantiers sont incontournables : l’éducation et l’économie. / Since 1986, in response to changes in the domestic and international context, the Francophonie has taken into consideration political objectives and showed ambition to become an influential actor in international relations. In order to achieve this goal, the organization has not stopped widening and gradually been equipped with necessary institutional and normative tools. Today, its political role begins to be internationally recognized. It has become a laboratory of a multi-polar international system which has been forming and of another humanist globalization project. It is also a new actor and political interlocutor of its members in terms of democracy, human rights, as well as conflict prevention and resolution. Nevertheless, several strategic challenges and lack of resources prevent it from becoming a major player at the forefront and its "achievements" remain fragile. Faced with this situation, it is important that the Francophonie, in the perspective of the new ten-year strategic framework (2015-2024), redefines its strategy. In fact, the future of the Francophonie can engage in several scenarios. Must it evolve towards a real political organization by abandoning its commitment to other sectors, particularly solidarity and development ? Must it, on the contrary, be faithful to its specificity and conjugate the factors of dialogue, solidarity, and development without sacrificing any of them ? Above all, it should again become a conqueror. By any means, it appears indispensable to make the Francophonie useful for the French-speaking peoples and to strengthen their engagement by fostering their common activities. Two domains are indispensable : education and economy.

Pour cet ensemble géopolitique dont les origines remontent aux années 70, l’heure des choix stratégiques a sonné. C’est pourquoi ce travail dont le thème est « Francophonie et microfinance » interroge l’utilité de l'Organisation internationale de la Francophonie sur la scène internationale dans un contexte de bouleversements économiques majeurs. En effet, au regard de sa vocation première d’union géoculturelle, la Francophonie peut-elle s’approprier l’outil économique qu’est la microfinance ? Notre contribution interroge donc également la microfinance, pour en saisir la dynamique mondiale. A travers la description du phénomène qu’elle représente, ce qui importe est d’identifier les acteurs, les raisons qui motivent leur choix pour cet outil et les limites auxquelles les nations ou acteurs internationaux se heurtent dans la pratique de la microfinance. Il s'agit d'une approche centrée sur des études de cas (France, Québec, Gabon et Sénégal) qui, dans un dialogue interdisciplinaire, convoque la théorie des organisations pour mettre en lumière les initiatives de l'OIF et leurs limites en même temps que cette étude s'inscrit dans le champ des relations internationales explorant les collaborations entre l’Organisation, son environnement, et les populations francophones en leur qualité de bénéficiaires finales. / For this geopolitical union whose origins date to the 1970s, the time for strategic choices has come. That is why this thesis "The Francophonie and Microfinance" questions the usefulness of the Organization on the international scene, in a context of major economic upheavals. Indeed, with regard to its primary geocultural purpose, can the Francophonie appropriate this economic tool? Our contribution therefore also queries microfinance to understand how it works all over the world. Through the description of the phenomenon it represents, what matters is to identify stakholders, the reasons that motivate their choice for this tool and the limits to which nations or international actors face in its practice. This approach based on cases (France, Quebec, Gabon and Senegal) calls the theory of organizations to put in effect the initiatives of the Francophonie and their limits, in an interdisciplinary dialogue. This study also fits into international relations exploring collaborations between the Organization, its environment, and French speaking populations as final beneficiaries.