In reality, the competition has an unsurpassable geopolitical vocation: boycotts, interferences… behind the hits and glitter, the crazy history of Eurovision

The 70th Eurovision final will take place on Saturday in Vienna, with several countries (Spain, Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, and Slovenia) boycotting due to Israel’s presence in the context of the Gaza conflict. Public television channels in Ireland, Spain, and Slovenia announced they would not broadcast the contest. Behind its apparent neutrality, politics has always disrupted the famous cathodic show followed by over 170 million viewers worldwide. Cyrille Bret, a researcher at the Delors Institute and a lecturer at Sciences Po Paris, co-authored the book “Geopolitics of Eurovision” and offers an analysis.

The boycott of the contest by five major European audiovisual groups highlights the historical dimension of Eurovision for KAN, the Israel Public Broadcasting Corporation. For KAN, Eurovision is a platform for Israeli influence. Israel became involved in Eurovision after the Six-Day War and the Yom Kippur War to address its isolation. According to KAN, participating in Eurovision is a way to gain respectability and a European certificate, despite Israel not being European and not favoring the EU and its values in its current government.

Historically, participation, boycotts, and counter-boycotts have been part of Eurovision. For instance, Turkey boycotted Eurovision in the 1970s due to Greece’s participation and later due to LGBTQIA+ representation in the 2010s. Civil societies, like in Sweden, also demonstrate against the cost of Eurovision. Moreover, Arab countries silently boycott Eurovision by transmitting the contest but not presenting any candidates.

While Eurovision’s regulations ban politics from songs, choreography, costumes, and candidacies, the contest’s geopolitics are undeniable. Eurovision was created in 1956 to unify Europeans after WWII and has been utilized by various countries, cities, and organizations for different geopolitical purposes, reflecting Europe’s evolution.

Eurovision, serving as an instrument of soft power for host countries and cities since the 2000s, offers opportunities for tourism, image improvement, and investor attraction. Voting communities also play a significant role in the contest, with some viewers being activists while others exercise their right to choose.

The Eurovision contest is not just about music and entertainment; it carries political, social, and cultural significance that reflects the history and values of Europe. The contest’s evolution mirrors Europe’s transformation and aspirations over the decades.

In France, the young prodigy Monroe aims to break the country’s Eurovision dry spell by participating in this year’s contest at just 17 years old, bringing a unique lyrical performance to the stage.