Review of Les Dérèglements de l’Exception Culturelle by Françoise Benhamou

Review of Les Dérèglements de l’Exception Culturelle by Françoise Benhamou

The concept of “exception culturelle” (cultural exception) has emerged after the GATT Uruguay Round took place in 1986. It was then decided that cultural goods should be defined as merchandises subject to the rules of the GATT. To counter this, European countries have established juridical concepts which enable them to protect their national cultural productions. While other European countries favor a flexible approach to the problem, France has adopted one of the most radical stances by defending the concept of cultural exception. Cultural exception defines cultural goods as goods needing special protection and therefore evading GATT negotiations. A series of measures were implemented to protect French cultural production: quotas in TV and radio programs, subventions, aid for show business workers under short term contracts and with interrupted income flows (“système de l’intermittence”), fixed prices for books, etc.