Colonial past, voluntary association and far-right voting in France

Abstract

We examine whether linked pluralism -association membership along cross-cutting linesreduces the likelihood of voting for the far right. Data come from surveys of European excolonials (pieds noirs) conducted after the French national elections of 2002, 2007 and 2012. Results confirm that pied-noir support for far-right candidates in presidential and parliamentary elections greatly exceeded the average. This pattern was mediated by membership in voluntary associations: far-right voting was significantly higher among those whose association membership insulated them from countering influences. Our study demonstrates the importance for far-right studies of the distinction between bridging and bonding social capital. The effects on politics of France's colonial legacy depend on association membership, which can either uphold or cross social cleavages.

Civic engagement, political participation and the radical right in Central and Eastern Europe

“…Work on Belgian voting behaviour shows that only membership in political organizations determines vote choice, while membership in non-political associations has no impact on voting for PRR parties (David et al, 2014). Focusing on Front National voters, Veugelers et al (2015) show that organized pied noir voters in France are more likely to support this party than those who are unorganized. In addition, comparative studies of extreme right voting in Western Europe fail to find clear evidence that participation in civic organizations would reduce the vote share of PRR parties (Rydgren, 2009).…”

“Taking Care of Your Own”: Parochialism, Pride of Place, and the Drive to Diversify Teaching

“…On one hand, it may bolster in-group ties and fortify trust (e.g., Collins et al, 2014; Reynolds, 2013). On the other hand, it may foster insularity and intolerance toward out-groups (e.g., Rhodes, 2012; Veugelers et al, 2015). Indeed, as noted in Putnam (2007), the very features of bonding social capital that were viewed positively in some lights—in-group solidarity, for example—also had deleterious side effects, especially within diverse contexts, such as the tendency to “hunker down” and withdraw from civic life.…”

"Taking Care of Your Own": Parochialism, Pride of Place, and the Drive to Diversify Teaching

“…On the one hand, it may bolster in-group ties and fortify trust (e.g., Reynolds, 2013). On the other hand, it may foster insularity and intolerance toward out-groups (e.g, Veugelers, Menard, & Permingeat, 2015). Indeed, as noted in Putnam (2007), the very features of bonded social capital that were viewed positively in some lights --in-group solidarity, for examplealso had deleterious side effects like the tendency to "hunker down" and withdraw from civic life.…”