France, Tolerance and Populism: Diagnosis and Anlalysis of the Rise of the Far­right and Spread of Hatred Against Immigrants

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine how France became a representative country for far-right European populism, despite its tradition of tolerance. To achieve this goal, we examine, first, how the concept of tolerance developed in France after the 16th century. Through this process, we find that within the political system, the tolerance of the liberal tradition met with universalism, a republican value, and developed into an ‘institutional tolerance’ that allowed ‘differences’ from an authoritarian perspective rather than on an equal level. This ‘assimilation’ policy, reflecting a ‘patriarchal’ and ‘oppressive’ institutional tolerance, formed the keynote of the immigration policy of the 20th century, which continued until the 1980s, and shows that the French government did not take practical steps for the social integration of immigrant groups under the republican universal value that does not allow ‘differences.’ The government came up with an ‘integration’ immigration policy that embraces cultural ‘differences’ only after encountering problems with immigrant groups. However, this was not enough to calm the antipathy towards immigrants in French society and the discontent of immigrants in French society. Also, universalism, a republican value with deep roots in France, prevented the French immigration policy from escaping its assimilationist nature even in the 21st century. In the midst of this, far-right parties have gained power by promoting xenophobic sentiments centered on immigration problems. Finally, this study also looks at how far-right populism is currently changing the French political environment.