Roundtable Discussion for Book Launch of Jan Rovny: Ethnic Minorities, Political Competition, and Democracy: Situational Liberalism
In a roundtable discussion at Sciences Po, three speakers will delve into the political preferences and behaviours of ethnic minorities in France, and how these factors influence the country's political landscape.
Vincent Tiberj, affiliated with Sciences Po Bordeaux, will lead the discussion. His area of focus remains undisclosed, but his advocacy has been shown to contribute to the formation of liberal and illiberal political poles.
Nonna Mayer, also a member of Sciences Po, is also affiliated with the Centre d'Études Européennes (CEE) and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS). The core argument of the book under discussion will be presented by Jan Rovny, who will also discuss new work on democratic support of ethnic minorities across Europe.
Mirna Safi, a member of Sciences Po and the Centre de Recherche Interdisciplinaire sur la Société (CRIS), completes the panel. Her area of focus is yet to be specified.
The discussion will focus on how the book's theory and arguments apply to the context in France. Ethnic minorities in France, particularly those of North African, Sub-Saharan African, and Muslim backgrounds, tend to exhibit distinct political preferences and behaviours that influence political cleavages and party systems.
These minorities often face marginalization and discrimination, including widespread racial profiling by police, which disproportionately affects young men perceived as Black or Arab, sometimes from as young as 10 years old. This produces a sense of exclusion and mistrust towards state institutions and the traditional political system, contributing to political disengagement and high abstention rates, especially among youth from minority backgrounds.
Their political behaviour reflects lower voter turnout and political participation, a tendency to support parties and movements that address issues of social justice, anti-racism, and economic inclusion, and the rise of the far-right National Rally (Rassemblement National). This party capitalizes on anti-immigration and anti-Muslim sentiments, shifting political discourse toward identity and cultural conflict, and reinforcing nationalistic and exclusionary themes that deepen political cleavages between ethnic minorities and sections of the broader electorate.
Thus, ethnic minorities in France influence the formation of political cleavages by highlighting conflicts over identity, immigration, and national belonging, prompting debates over representation and the legitimacy of democratic institutions, and impacting party systems by creating pressure on established parties to address issues of racial justice and social inequality, while simultaneously fueling the electoral rise of far-right parties that position themselves as defenders against minority-related "threats."
The book under discussion suggests that permanent minorities advocate for rights and liberties to protect themselves from the tyranny of the majority. New work also shows that ostracized ethnic minorities, perceived as a cultural or political threat by a significant portion of the majority, are more likely to support counter-majoritarian aspects of democracy. The dynamic created by the presence of ethnic minorities is system-forming, influencing political cleavages, shaping party systems, and informing the absorption of new political issues.
The roundtable discussion at Sciences Po will delve into policy-and-legislation related to ethnic minorities in France, given their influence on the country's political landscape. The distinct political preferences and behaviors of these minorities, including those of North African, Sub-Saharan African, and Muslim backgrounds, can be categorized as general-news, as they impact political cleavages, party systems, and the absorption of new political issues.
