The New Front National: Still a Master Case?

Abstract

Responding to Complex Diversity in Europe and Canada ONLINE WORKING PAPER SERIES RECODE, a research networking programme financed through the European Science Foundation (ESF), is intended to explore to what extent the processes of transnationalisation, migration, religious mobilisation and cultural differentiation entail a new configuration of social conflict in post-industrial societies-a possible new constellation labelled complex diversity. RECODE brings together scholars from across Europe and Canada in a series of scientific activities. More information about the programme and the working papers series is available via the RECODE websites: www.recode.fi www.recode.info www.esf.org/recode

Enemies of liberty? Nationalism, immigration, and the framing of terrorism in the agenda of the Front National

“…The party has increasingly adopted this approach over time as it has become more incentivised to shift away rhetorically from clear associations with racism, fascism, and predominantly ethnic nationalism in order to augment its electoral appeal. This shift is consistent with the party's move towards French Republicanism since Marine Le Pen took over from her father (Betz, ) and fits with the adoption of laïcité in the party's programmatic agenda, which allows it to portray anti‐Islamism as a secular principle rather than racist exclusion.…”

“…The evolution of the its discourse across time, and importantly its transition from the leadership of Jean‐Marie Le Pen to Marine Le Pen, has been marked by both continuity and change. The party shifted from representing “a rallying point for the various strands of traditional French right‐wing extremist nostalgia” (Betz, , p. 2) including Vichy and l'Algerie française during Jean‐Marie Le Pen's leadership to the embracing of French Republicanism and laïcité after Marine Le Pen took over. Despite various changes in the party's discourse and programmatic agenda, however, the FN has remained since its establishment anti‐immigrant.…”

“…During Jean‐Marie Le Pen's leadership, the préférence nationale was pursued through an “indirect racist discourse” in the FN's representation of a closed “national identity” (Hainsworth, ). This approach is what Taguieff () terms “cultural and differentialist neo‐racism.” Jean‐Marie Le Pen's FN was characterised by a rejection of Republican ideas, emphasising instead French cultural heritage (Betz, , p. 3)—and its connection with Royalist Catholicism—and common destiny. This position has shifted since Marine Le Pen took over from her father, as she has pursued a strategy of “de‐demonisation” of the party and a “softening of its rhetoric” (Ivaldi, ; Mayer, ) in an attempt to transform it into a “catch‐all party of protest” (Betz, , p. 2).…”

“…This approach is what Taguieff () terms “cultural and differentialist neo‐racism.” Jean‐Marie Le Pen's FN was characterised by a rejection of Republican ideas, emphasising instead French cultural heritage (Betz, , p. 3)—and its connection with Royalist Catholicism—and common destiny. This position has shifted since Marine Le Pen took over from her father, as she has pursued a strategy of “de‐demonisation” of the party and a “softening of its rhetoric” (Ivaldi, ; Mayer, ) in an attempt to transform it into a “catch‐all party of protest” (Betz, , p. 2). This process has included a shift of emphasis from préférence to priorité nationale in order to disassociate the party from the negative connotations of Jean‐Marie Le Pen's rhetoric and create distance from the party's reputation for exclusionist discrimination (Alduy & Wahnich, ).…”

“…During the leadership of Marine Le Pen, the party significantly shifted its economic platform from a predominantly right‐wing to a left‐wing stance (Ivaldi, ). This shift has also been accompanied by a strong emphasis on social issues (Betz, ) and is related to an attempt by Marine Le Pen to make the party appear credible to deal with rising unemployment and economic hardship (Bastow, ). Marine Le Pen's claim to be the advocate of “the silent majority” (Betz, ) is a clear appeal to those left behind by modernisation, i.e., the economically insecure who have been marginalised by globalisation, technological change, and other societal shifts.…”