Right-Wing Populism in France and the United States: A comparative perspective
Abstract
The rise of right-wing populism is one of the most significant political developments of the last decade. In Europe right-wing populist parties such as the French Rassemblement National have gained traction in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis and, most importantly, during the 2015 migration crisis. In the United-States, populist themes and ideas have played an important role in Donald Trump’s election in 2016 and in his redefinition of the GOP. Adopting a transatlantic perspective, this conference will discuss crucial aspects of the populist phenomenon and its recent manifestations in France and the United States, in the specific context produced by the Covid-19 pandemic, asking whether the current crisis may mark the end of the populist cycle in both countries.