Saying online what the french think quietly'' : The digital expressions of the radical right

This study provides an in-depth analysis of the normalization process of the French radical right. This phenomenon is characterized by the adoption-by left-wing, center-right, and moderate-right political actors-of discourses and practices traditionally associated with radical right ideology. These include discriminatory rhetoric targeting immigrants, the ''brutalization'' of public debate-where attacks increasingly focus on individuals rather than ideas-and the imposition of specific framings of current events as dominant interpretations within public discourse. The research specifically examines the role of digital spaces in fostering an ecosystem of actors-activists, journalists, influencers-who, despite lacking formal ties to radical right political parties, nonetheless contribute to the mainstreaming of radical right discourses and ideas. These actors operate within digital environments enabled by new information and communication technologies, which are subject to weak regulation and surveillance. This deregulated context facilitates the dissemination of content typically prohibited or marginalized in traditional media spheres. Such content is embedded in distinctive discursive practices that have proliferated in online spaces over the past decade. To assess the role of online platforms in the normalization of radical right discourse, the research employs digital methods, including the development of a hate speech detection algorithm, some network analysis, and natural language processing techniques. These approaches enable the large-scale analysis of data generated by new and previously understudied actors in the digital sphere.