Difficulty Of Studying Racism And Xenophobia In Modern Western European Academia : The Case Of France

The French academic landscape has been increasingly confronted with contentious debates surrounding the concept of "Islamo-leftism" and the potential influence of foreign states in higher education and research institutions. This paper intends to provide a snapshot introduction to these issues, focusing on the role of key political figures, implications for the study of race and racism in academia, and potential consequences for academic freedom in France. In addition, a fact-finding mission initiated by the "Rassemblement des democrats, progressistes et independants (RDPI)" (The Rally of Democrats, Progressive, and Independent) group in July 2021, under the chairmanship of Senator Etienne Blance and rapporteur Senator André Gattolin, investigated non-European state influences in the French university and academic world. The report from this mission formulated 26 recommendations grouped into five objectives to prepare France and its institutions for the struggle to preserve and better protect the French scientific heritage, academic freedoms, and research integrity from potential foreign interference