Populism on the verge of power: the goal-oriented mainstreaming of the French rassemblement national

Abstract

This article examines the goal-oriented mainstreaming strategy adopted by populist-radical-right (PRR) parties on the verge of power. With the argument that depending on the party’s evolving political status and goal-pursuing strategy, PRR parties’ practices of mainstreaming may take different forms, the research aims to elucidate the dynamic interplay between party goals and mainstreaming strategy. By conducting a comparative content analysis of the French PRR party - Rassemblement National (RN), the article illustrates how the mainstreaming has been performed when the RN tries to juggle with its mixed goals of vote, policy and office. Findings show that RN’s strategic focus is to project an image that is both ideologically coherent and governing capable. The underlying logic is that RN’s political status allows more commitment to office-seeking, but also requires a consistent vote-prioritising strategy.