The Moral Panic of Islamo-gauchisme in Service of a Colorblind Approach to Racism

Abstract

This essay frames Islamo-gauchisme as a moral panic and discusses how, why, and when it emerged as such in France, its relationship with critical race theory (a moral panic in the U.S.), and the broader societal implications of Islamo-gauchisme as a moral panic. More precisely, we discuss how and why Islamo-gauchisme entered the zeitgeist and why this moral panic is so dangerous. We demonstrate that this reinforces the colorblind hegemonic understanding of racism in France which allows for the entrenchment of racializing practices under the guise of progressive concepts. In what follows, we unpack the emergence and use of the term Islamo-gauchisme, and its relation to the denial of race and racism within France, the consolidation of the reactionary French republic, and why Islamo-gauchisme as a particular moral panic is so important.