Political Symbolism and Muslim Identity: Analyzing the Impact of Marine Le Pen's Policies

Abstract

The aim of this article is to provide an overview of how Marine Le Pen, a politician who has shifted public perceptions of Muslims in France using mass media texts, especially in altering perceptions of Muslims in France by employing the Hypertext, Interactivity & Link theory by McDonald & Stevenson. Through a qualitative method and interpretative paradigm content analysis, the research found that Le Pen utilizes mass media as a tool to subvert politics that should be unifying, turning it into a divisive instrument based on religious, ethnic, and racial factors. With six million Muslims in France, Le Pen's political position carries a dual risk: widespread religious conflict if successful as president and the potential for internal political conflict if unsuccessful. Further analysis highlights the urgency of a profound understanding of the impact of this anti-Muslim strategy, including the risk of escalating religious conflicts and shifts in political paradigms. The implications encompass threats to political and social stability, emphasizing the importance of understanding mass media dynamics and the role of racial politics to maintain harmony in French society in the future, even globally. Keywords: Hypertext, Islamophobia, Political Symbolism, Social Media.