For the past ten years, French political science has developed a dense analytical framework around the party of Marine Le Pen, focusing on sociology of activists and leaders, geography of voting patterns, and programmatic and semantic analysis. However, one key piece was missing from this puzzle: the voice of the voters. Sociologist Félicien Faury addresses this gap with precision in his book “Des électeurs ordinaires. Enquête sur la normalisation de l’extrême droite,” based on his thesis and fieldwork conducted in the southeast of France between 2016 and 2022. By taking the perspectives of ordinary Le Pen voters seriously, Faury challenges common assumptions about their motivations and sheds light on the racial logic underlying their political choices.
Faury’s analysis reveals that the reasons behind the vote for the Rassemblement national (RN) are not simply manifestations of anger, distress, or a desire for change, as often portrayed in the media. Instead, he argues that a racial undertone shapes the political thinking of RN voters. The aversion towards ethnoracial minorities is a common thread among different segments of the Le Pen electorate, serving as a unifying factor for various motivations. Faury’s findings align with quantitative surveys, highlighting the racial dimension that informs Le Pen supporters’ political views.
In his study conducted in the Southeast, Faury aimed to shift attention away from regions affected by deindustrialization and focus on the lower middle class – economically stable, less educated, with non-outsourced jobs and homeownership. By engaging in conversations with these voters, Faury uncovers shared perspectives that lead to support for Le Pen. He describes how everyday experiences related to taxes, education, and residential settings become arenas for racially charged social competition, where minority groups are viewed as illegitimate competitors. This worldview prevalent in neighborhoods and workplaces legitimizes the Le Pen vote, challenging the perception of extremism associated with it.
In a debate in autumn 2023, two interpretations of popular support for the RN emerged: economists Julia Cagé and Thomas Piketty attributed the vote to socio-economic inequality in their work “Une histoire du conflit politique,” while pollster Jérôme Fourquet emphasized the importance of identity politics in his book “La France d’après. Tableau politique”. This discussion reflects the ongoing discourse around the drivers of RN’s electoral success, with some emphasizing economic factors and others highlighting identity issues. Faury’s research contributes to this debate by underscoring the significance of racial considerations in shaping Le Pen voters’ decisions.
Through his meticulously conducted study, Félicien Faury offers a nuanced understanding of the normalization of far-right politics in France, anchored in the perspectives of ordinary Le Pen voters. By challenging stereotypes and offering insights into the racial dimension of their political choices, Faury’s work adds a valuable piece to the puzzle of French political science analysis surrounding the rise of the RN. His research sheds light on the complex motivations driving support for the far-right party and underscores the need to engage with the voices and perspectives of its electorate to comprehend the broader societal trends at play.
