I am happy to report that my opinion essay on the recent French presidential election has been published by History News Network.

Here is the opening of the essay:

“On Sunday [24 April 2022], President Emmanuel Macron won re-election in the French presidential election, defeating far-right leader Marine Le Pen by an impressive margin of 58 to 42 percent. Despite this victory, French politics are once again in disarray and the nation is deeply divided.

“In the final stretch of the electoral campaign, President Macron and many political leaders had called on French citizens to rebuild a barrage républicain (republican dam) against the surging waters of the far-right movement in France. On Sunday, a majority of French voters responded by voting for Macron in order to block the far right and the republican dam seemed to hold.  

“Yet, even in defeat, Le Pen and her Rassemblement National (National Rally) party claimed a historic ‘shining victory’ by scoring the highest number of votes for a far-right party in any modern election in France. Indeed, the presidential elections have demonstrated the French far-right’s growing power within French political culture and its potential to win elections in the near future. Is the republican dam now fundamentally weakened?”

To read the entire analysis, see my opinion essay on the History News Network website.