Beyond Left & Right
An academic analysis of Nouvelle Résistance, the French far-right movement that sought a "Third Position" through National Bolshevism, ecofascism, and revolutionary tactics.
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Origins & Formation
A New Resistance
Nouvelle Résistance (NR), or "New Resistance," was a French far-right political group active from 1991 to 1997. Founded by Christian Bouchet, it emerged as an offshoot of the political movement Troisième Voie (Third Way). The group self-identified as "national revolutionary," positioning itself within the international current of National Bolshevism.
Political Lineage
NR was the ideological successor to earlier European far-right movements. It directly followed Christian Bouchet's own Troisième Voie and drew significant inspiration from Jeune Europe, a pan-European nationalist movement founded in the 1960s by the influential Belgian political theorist Jean-François Thiriart.
Quick Facts
A summary of the organization's key details provides a foundational understanding of its structure and timeline.
Ideological Framework
National Bolshevism
The core ideology of Nouvelle Résistance was National Bolshevism. This syncretic political belief system attempts to merge elements of ultranationalism (often ethnic nationalism) with aspects of Bolshevism. For NR, this meant adopting revolutionary tactics and anti-capitalist rhetoric while pursuing a far-right nationalist agenda.
The Third Position
As a "Third Positionist" movement, NR was fundamentally defined by its opposition to what it saw as the two dominant global ideologies: Communism and Capitalism. It sought to carve out a "third way" that was simultaneously anti-communist and anti-capitalist, rejecting both international socialism and liberal democracy.
Ecofascism & Anti-Clericalism
NR incorporated seemingly contradictory elements into its platform. It espoused a form of ecofascism, linking environmental issues to nationalist and racial purity concerns. Concurrently, it was staunchly anti-clerical and supported state secularism (laïcité), a position that distinguished it from many traditionalist right-wing groups.
Anti-Zionism & Anti-Imperialism
The group's worldview was also characterized by a strong anti-Zionist stance. Furthermore, it vehemently opposed what it termed the "cultural imperialism" of the United States, viewing American influence as a threat to European identity and sovereignty.
Strategy & Tactics
A Strategic Pivot
Initially, NR pursued a strategy of "the peripheries against the center." It aimed to build an "anti-establishment front" by supporting various protest movements (regional, ecological, social) and rejecting the traditional left-right political spectrum. However, founder Christian Bouchet later declared this approach a failure. The group then pivoted towards an alliance with Jean-Marie Le Pen's National Front, adopting the provocative slogan, "Less Leftism! More Fascism!".
The Tactic of Entryism
Nouvelle Résistance practiced a policy of entryism, a political tactic where members of one organization join another, often larger, group to influence its policies and direction from within. The SOT notes that NR was explicitly inspired by the historical use of this tactic by Trotskyist organizations.
Infiltration of Earth First
A notable success of NR's entryism strategy was its infiltration of the deep ecology movement. The group managed to place its members within the national leadership of Earth First in France, demonstrating its ability to operate within and co-opt movements ideologically distant from its far-right core.
Dissolution & Legacy
Transformation and Successors
In the autumn of 1996, during its third congress in Aix-en-Provence, Nouvelle Résistance officially dissolved and transformed itself into a new entity: the Union des cercles résistance (Union of Resistance Circles). This new structure served as the direct precursor to the creation of another, more infamous far-right group, Unité Radicale.
Place in French Far-Right History
Nouvelle Résistance represents a significant chapter in the complex history of post-war far-right movements in France. Its blend of revolutionary rhetoric, ecologism, and anti-capitalism, combined with its tactical flexibility, illustrates the ideological experimentation that occurred on the fringes of French nationalism during the late 20th century.
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Important Notice
This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for academic and informational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.
This is not political endorsement. The information provided on this website is for historical and political analysis. It does not represent an endorsement of the ideologies or actions of the groups discussed. The content is presented for the purpose of understanding complex political phenomena and should be approached with a critical and academic perspective.
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