The French National Front
Subtitle: the extremist challenge to democracy
By: Harvey G. Simmons.
Publisher: Westview Press
Published: 1996
Place of publication: Boulder, Colo
Language: eng
Number of pages: 285
Subjects: Le Pen, Jean-Marie, 1928-  -- Influence; Front National (France : 1972- ); Fascism -- France -- History -- 20th century; Racism -- France -- History -- 20th century; France -- Politics and government -- 1981-1995
Description: Over the past few decades, extreme-right political parties have won increasing support throughout Europe. The largest and most sophisticated of these is the French National Front. Led by the charismatic Jean-Marie Le Pen, the Front is now the third most important political force in France after the mainstream right and the socialists.

This clear and comprehensive book explores the antecedents for the meteoric rise of the National Front. Beginning with a political history of the extreme right from 1945 to 1995, Harvey Simmons traces links between Le Pen and French neo-fascist and extreme-right organizations of the 1950s and 1960s and concludes with analyses of the Front's anti-Semitism, racism, organization, ideology, language, electorate, and views on women.

Simmons argues that the Front is not a party like any other but a major threat to French democracy.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 269-274) and index.