Lecture #5 - France

Capitalism

A system that divides people by groups: those who accumulate capital and those who labor to provide it. The division a) prevents or counters labor organization and b) prevents new people or groups from acquiring capital.

Racial Capitalism

The racialization of the laboring group in a capitalist system — the belief that they are inherently or intrinsically unworthy/incapable of capital accumulation.

Immanuel Wallerstein

Coined the concept of core and periphery, scholar of world-systems theory.

Core

Where capital accumulates

Periphery

Cheap labor, raw materials and captive markets.

Internal Periphery

Even within core areas, there are periphery areas. Ex. rural Saskatchewan, Northern Canada.

External Periphery

The global periphery or distinction between Global South/post-colonial states and Global North/Western countries. These areas tend to be inhabited by racialized people, and tend to be suppliers of labor, rather than accumulators of capital.

Primary Racialization

Based on the division between capital accumulation vs. labor.

Secondary Racialization

The racialized group turns its racialization onto another. Ex. Central Europeans see themselves as more “Western” than Eastern Europeans, Poles see themselves as better than Ukrainians, Colombians see themselves as better than Venezuelans.

Migration and Aging in the Core

• Longer lifespans

• Lower birthrates

• Leads to increased burden on health and welfare systems, dwindling workforce

• Migration poses a solution

Illiberal Solutions for Aging Core

• Anti-abortion movement

• Less welfare for the old — not popular in Europe

• Anything but migration

Albania Plan

Italian government’s plan to send migrants to Albania (not an EU member). The EU has similar efforts in Turkey, Libya, where they pay to keep migrants there instead of crossing the border.

Migration to Canada

• After years of record inflow, Ottawa is recalibrating

• Reasons given: housing pressure, service capacity, temporary resident surge

• Federal measures: lower permanent resident targets, cap non-permanent population, cap international students

Vichy Regime

The south of France given to the collaborist government who remained unoccupied, and the north was put under German control.

Algerian War

The loss of Algeria was a catalyst for the shift from a colonialist agenda to an anti-immigration stance.

Founding of the National Front

Anti-EU, anti-immigration. The foundation of the modern-day French right.

Charles Maurras

Provided an intellectual foundation for modern French nationalism. Political philosophy known as integral nationalist — rejected principles of French Revolution.

Jean Marie Le Pen

Helped mobilize French far-right ideology. Very anti-semitic, excused the actions of the Vichy sympathizers.

Marine Le Pen

Became the leader of the National Front in 2011, and undertook an effort to make the party more appealing to mainstream voters. The party’s name changed, and this politcian reached the presidential run-off election in 2017 and 2022.

Jordan Bardella

Current leader of the National Rally/Front. Represents a much younger generation of French far-right nationalists.

2025 Fallout from Marine Le Pen’s Convinction

Far-right figures, including Wilders, Orban, Musk, Bolsonaro and Trump condemned the corruption ruling.

2026 September 27th Senate Election

RN won 12 more seats in the Senate, enough to form a group. Seen as a symbol that French politics are changing, growing favor toward the far-right.

2026 September-October Student Protests

Marine Le Pen called for increased police presence and force, placed blame on left-wing opponents.

Agenda of Le Pen’s National Rally and “National Preference”

Referendum for revision of the constitution, an intent to condition access to social institutions and benefits to only French citizens. An intent to ban the wearing of the hijab in public, French secularism used to normalize fear-mongering around immigrants and Muslims. Leading in early 2027 Presidential Election Politico polling.

Why is Right-Wing Nationalism Popular in France

• High cost of living, decline in public services, high cost of basic necessities, immigration.

• Financial insecurity: job insecurity, unemployment, income inequality

• Fear of immigration: social cohesion, housing and jobs, border control

• National identity: Language, cultural change, national sovereignty.

The Reaction

People who were anti-decapitation (monarchists) and wanted to restore the Bourbon rulers who had ruled France for centuries. Strong roots in the Catholic Church.

Napoleon

Corsican officer who became an authoritarian dictator. Quelled the chaos of the Revolution, and inadvertently promoted some democratic principles by replacing feudal systems with the more modern institutions of the state.

Liberty, Fraternity and Equality

The slogan of republicanism and the official ideology of France.

Republicanism

Official ideology of France post-Revolution. Has both left-wing and right-wing interpretations, some of which has to do with secularism.