What question did this study set out to answer?

The article aims to analyze the roots of anti-immigrant discourse in France, particularly through the lens of Éric Zemmour's writings.

May 21, 2026

Éric Zemmour and the Ambiguities of Indigeneity

Key Points

The article aims to analyze the roots of anti-immigrant discourse in France, particularly through the lens of Éric Zemmour's writings.
Analyzes Zemmour's published works, including his 2008 novel and 2022 essay.
Explores the historical context of colonial Algeria and postcolonial France.
Discusses the significance of recognizing the dual indigeneity of Muslims and Jews from the Maghreb.
Highlights the transformation of nativist rhetoric in Zemmour's works.
Underscores the ongoing relevance of colonial legacies in contemporary French identity politics.
Advocates for a shared acknowledgment of marginalized identities as a way to combat nativism.

Abstract

Abstract This article examines the colonial genealogies of anti-immigrant discourse in France through the case of Éric Zemmour, one of France's most influential nativist politicians. It tracks the permutations of nativist discourse in Zemmour's writings, from his little-known 2008 novel Petit frère (Little Brother) to his best-selling essay La France n'a pas dit son dernier mot (France Has Not Had Its Last Word), which propelled his 2022 presidential run. What emerges from this case study is a fascinating glimpse into the colonial production of French nativism, from colonial Algeria to postcolonial France. In conclusion, the article turns to a controversial text that argues for a common recognition of the bifurcated indigeneity of Muslims and Jews of the Maghreb as a first step in claiming political belonging in postcolonial France, against French nativism: Houria Bouteldja's Whites, Jews, and Us (2016).

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