The Legal Construction of the Notion of Anti-White Racism in France

in French Politics, Culture & Society
Author:
Mathias Möschel Legal Studies Department, Central European University, Vienna, Austria moschelm@ceu.edu

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Abstract

This article focuses on the legal construction of the notion of anti-White racism in France. By analyzing cases litigated under criminal law, it describes how a right-wing NGO has been promoting this notion via a litigation strategy since the late 1980s, initially with only limited success. Public debates in mainstream media in the 2000s and intervention by more traditional antiracist NGOs in courts have since contributed to a creeping acceptance of anti-White racism both within courtrooms and in broader public discourse. This increased recognition of anti-White racism is highly problematic from a critical race and critical Whiteness perspective.

Contributor Notes

Mathias Möschel is Associate Professor, Head of Department, and Director of the Doctoral Program at the Legal Studies Department of Central European University. His research, teaching, and publications fall broadly in the field of comparative (constitutional) law, international human rights law, and nondiscrimination law mainly from a critical race theory and gender perspective. Email: moschelm@ceu.edu

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