What the study found
The study found that far-right rhetoric in France contributed to the securitization of Muslim identity, meaning Muslims were framed as a security concern. It also found that this framing affected French citizens of Algerian descent and that similar language appeared beyond the Rassemblement National in mainstream politics.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that the study shows how political speech and media framing can normalize exclusionary narratives and reinforce public anxiety about Islam. They also suggest that colonial legacies and media amplification are part of how these narratives became integrated into state governance in France.
What the researchers tested
The researchers analyzed the discourse and frames in speeches by Rassemblement National leaders Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, along with their coverage on French television networks BFMTV and CNews. They used securitization theory to examine how political and media language interacted in contemporary France.
What worked and what didn't
The analysis showed that political speech and media coverage worked together to present Muslims as threats to French values and social cohesion. It also showed that this securitizing logic extended to mainstream figures such as Interior Ministers Gérald Darmanin and Bruno Retailleau, blurring the boundary between populist rhetoric and state discourse.
What to keep in mind
The abstract describes an analysis of discourse and media frames, so the findings are about framing and rhetoric rather than direct measurement of public behavior. Other limitations are not described in the available summary.
Key points
- Far-right rhetoric in France contributed to framing Muslim identity as a security issue.
- The study says this framing affected French citizens of Algerian descent, a major North-African immigrant group.
- Political speech and television coverage reinforced the idea that Muslims threaten French values and social cohesion.
- The same securitizing logic appeared in mainstream politics, including statements by two Interior Ministers.
- The authors link this pattern to colonial legacies, media amplification, and state governance.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Far-right rhetoric linked Muslim identity to security threats in France
- Authors:
- Oussama Belamri, Sami E. Baroudi, Joseph P. Helou
- Institutions:
- Lebanese American University
- Publication date:
- 2026-07-02
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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