Far-right candidates Eric Zemmour and Marine Le Pen have both benefited from substantial support by media groups sympathetic to their ideas.
Thomas Coex/AFP
While many progressive movements have organised online, conservatives dominate because of better organisation, capital, and social inequality. France’s presidential elections are a case in point.
Is France heading for Macron vs. Le Pen rematch?
Chesnot/Getty Images
Garret Martin, American University School of International Service
For the second time running, it is looking like the French presidential election will go to a runoff between centralist Emmanuel Macron and far-right Marine Le Pen.
There are 12 candidates in the first round of the campaign – two favourites, three outsiders and a host of people with no chance of making it to the second round.
The RN candidate has spent the past years attempting to present herself as a champion for living standards.
VALENTINE CHAPUIS / AFP
Under fire for her past Russian links, Marine Le Pen may still be within reach of the second round of the French presidential elections thanks to her left-leaning economic agenda.
Zemmour’s ideas are nothing new.
Bertrand Guay/AFP
The south-eastern region of France known as PACA has long been a centre of power for the far-right, but recent failures in the regional elections bring its future into question for Marine Le Pen.
In recent decades, musicians have been quick to object to the use of their material by the far-right.
Etienne Laurent/EPA
After rioters outside the US Capitol sang Bob Marley’s ‘Three Little Birds’, here are more global instances when history has sounded a little out of tune.
Populists leaders are supposed to use simpler language than their opponents. A comprehensive study shows this is not always the case.
A man carrying a club is seen as the Proud Boys, a right-wing pro-Trump group, gather with their allies in a rally against left-wing Antifa in Portland, Oregon, Sept. 26, 2020.
John Rudoff/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
The French president presents himself to all things to all people – leaving voters with less meaningful choice at the ballot box.
People holding German flags take part in a rally organised by Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on May 1, 2019 in Chemnitz, eastern Germany.
Hendrik Schmidt/AFP
Nationalism seems to be on the rise in Europe, with many parties hostile to immigration. But what role does immigration itself have their support? Research shows some unexpected impacts.
Populism and nationalism are two concepts that go together today. Isolationist proposals, Euroscepticism and a definition of nation against the “enemy” are three of its main ingredients.
Yellow vest protesters want French president Emmanuel Macron to feel their pain. Is he listening?
Reuters/Stephane Mahe
Garret Martin, American University School of International Service
President Emmanuel Macron has presented himself as a defender of the liberal order against the rising tide of right-wing populism. But he can’t lead Europe while mass protests have France in crisis.
More than 25,000 people voted for Faith Goldy for mayor of Toronto. What does it mean?
(Facebook)
Faith Goldy’s third-place finish in the Toronto mayoralty race should not be dismissed. We must be watchful of the potential lessons that other far-right politicians may draw from her campaign.
Kylian Mbappé (c), France’s new star.
Etienne Laurent/EPA
Emmanuel Macron is the latest to talk about reining in fake news. It can’t be done.
Is there really a strong division between folks like Brexit leader Farage and global citizens Bill Gates and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau?
REUTERS/Peter Nicholls, Geoff Robins
Amid the rising forces of populism and nationalism, it’s easy to fear a new age of tyranny. But history proves tyrants are often no match against democracy and its defenders.