In this article, the discourse on immigration and nationality of the French mainstream parties UDF/RPR1 (1996–1997) is examined. In particular, those discursive properties are studied that appear to be of crucial importance to the manifestation of ethnic dominance. The analysis includes topics, actor-referential strategies, topoi and fallacies in argumentation, and some rhetorical devices that are employed. The findings show that right-wing political discourse is organized by a global strategy of negative otherpresentation, not only of the ‘others’, who are almost systematically derogated, accused of abuse and thus criminalized, but also of their supposed allies, the political Left, object of systematic delegitimation.
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