French Far Right's Clever Shift: Neo-Racism Hides Behind Mainstream Secularity

The rise of anti-Islam rhetoric in post-2015 France raises crucial questions about the far right. Does it rely on old-fashioned racism, inviting pushback? Or does it use a more sophisticated approach to blend with national values and gain political traction?

Methodology:

• Social network analysis examining 77 French far-right websites
• Qualitative frame analysis of online content
• Online audience measurement through visibility metrics

Findings by Frame:

• Interpret Islam as threatening core French identity (Religion/Culture)
• Mobilize against 'neo-racist' interpretations disguised within national values

The Winning Strategy?

The neo-racist approach proves more effective online, leveraging dominant concepts of secularity and republicanism without explicit reference to racial animosity. This reveals a strategic tension: the far right can appear mainstream while still fundamentally challenging the system they oppose.

Broader implications suggest this 'opposition within' strategy may be replicable elsewhere.