Centrist moves against Muslims can legitimize far-right parties rather than weaken them
Evidence
Former centrist French prime minister Nicolas Sarkozy seemingly set the tone for a shift rightward when his party (the Union for a Popular Movement [UMP]) changed the focus of their campaign platform to immigration and “law and order” (both of which tacitly centered on Muslim identity in France). When Sarkozy did this in 2007, the young right-winger Le Pen claimed issue ownership which then thrust her into the French political mainstream. Rather than taking votes away from Le Pen, Sarkozy’s move only bolstered the legitimacy of Le Pen and her party by moving the French political center further to the right. This craven political move only helped solidify her right-wing party as a legitimate, mainstream party for the foreseeable future in France. — Arsalan Iftikhar, Fear of a Muslim Planet_ Global…, 494
Categorization
- SEED: The counterproductive-co-option dynamic is a generalizable claim usable against ‘moderate’ anti-Muslim legislation everywhere.
- corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Arsalan Iftikhar, Fear of a Muslim Planet_ Global…, 494
- XREF: connects to: Islamophobic power can deploy oppositional tactics to advance Muslim marginalization; France’s anti-Muslim center effectively serves its far-right fringe — Arsalan Iftikhar, Fear of a Muslim Planet_ Global…, 513; Explicit Islamophobia has become an effective electoral strategy — Khaled A. Beydoun, American Islamophobia_ Understanding…, 508 (+2 more)
Related
- European Islamophobia has moved from the far right into the political mainstream. (similarity 0.83)
- France’s anti-Muslim center effectively serves its far-right fringe (similarity 0.82)
- French mainstream parties mainstreamed fringe Islamophobic rhetoric about the hijab (similarity 0.79)
- Islamophobic propaganda moves right-wing to mainstream to center (similarity 0.78)
Broader Connections
- France’s anti-Muslim center effectively serves its far-right fringe
#corroborates(0.85) — Arsalan Iftikhar, Fear of a Muslim Planet_ Global…, 513 - Anti-Muslim fear-mongering empowered by right-wing foundations fuels mainstream hatred.
#exemplifies(0.55) — Arsalan Iftikhar, Fear of a Muslim Planet_ Global…, 626 - Explicit Islamophobia has become an effective electoral strategy
#exemplifies(0.45) — Khaled A. Beydoun, American Islamophobia_ Understanding…, 508