THE DOCTRINE OF THE NATIONAL FRONT IN FRANCE (1972-1989): A REVOLUTIONARY PROGRAMME? IDEOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF A NATIONAL-POPULIST MOBILIZATION

In: New political science: a journal of politics & culture, S. 29-70

Abstract

THE AUTHOR REVIEWS THE MAIN POINTS OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE NATIONAL FRONT IN FRANCE, BY OUTLINING THE CULTURAL AND POLITICAL ORIGINS. THE FUNCTIONAL COHERENCE OF THE MOVEMENT IS DEMONSTATED, WHILE THE AUTHOR INDICATES THE LATENT INTERNAL CONTRADICTIONS, ON A THEORETICAL LEVEL. THESE THESES ARE DEVELOPED IN LIGHT OF ATTACKS FROM JOURNALISTS AND MILITANTS ON J.M. LE PEN, WHO HAS BEEN TARGETED AS BEING DANGEROUS TO THE IDEALS OF A PLURALIST DEMOCRACY. THE AUTHOR ATTEMPTS TO DELINEATE LE PEN'S PURPOSES AND IDEALS IN CONTRAST WITH THE PURSUIT OF NATIONAL FRONT'S IDEALS AND GOALS.