The French Extreme Right and Transnational Political Capital

Since the beginning of the 2020s, extreme right parties have succeeded in moving from the periphery to the center of national political fields in Europe (Denmark, Finland, France, Italy…). A key but neglected element in this political metamorphosis has been the increasing interconnectedness of national political organisations and think tanks. In this paper, we explore the uses of transnational capital by the French Rassemblement National and the Institut des sciences sociales, économiques et politiques in Lyon. While the RN has become a key political player, and its leader Marine Le Pen the far-right candidate in the next presidential election in 2027, the Institut des sciences sociales, économiques et politiques for its part is one of the main training grounds of future ultra-conservative leaders.