Abstract

Taguieffs previous works, especially his study of the “New Right,” have led him to examine the foundations of politics in terms of the fundamental cleavage of the other into enemy/foe. Thus all politics aims either at disqualifying the other, if he is recognized as a simple adversary (echthros), or at annihilating him, if he is considered an absolute enemy (polemios). From this perspective, Taguieff has traced the radicalization of the French Right, which has insisted on French identity and has appropriated Left themes, particularly “the right to be different.” He focuses on the axiological opposition “we vs. foreigners” typical of nationalist imagery.