In this paper, we propose a comparative analysis of five national models of cultural policy. The four first ones constitute Southern Europe: Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain. The fifth one is France. These countries share a tradition of direct intervention in the cultural field, contrary to anglo-saxon or scandinavian countries. The aim of such a comparison is to assess convergences but also disparities between these countries, in spite of their common traditions. We focus on the historical paths, the ways of institutionalization of the cultural public domain, and the different kinds of territorial management of cultural policies. France, which is often considered as a singular model the other countries would have try to imitate, is also analyzed in a comparative perspective. The assessment of convergences and divergences allows, in conclusion, to establish the common goals that share these five countries, as well as the major part of occidental countries in order to define the cultural policy for the 21st century