Re-rooting oneself. Alignment and self-coherence of Identitaire activists in France

Based on an immersion field study within the Identitaire movement, this article examines the way in which the organisation leads activists to carry out a biographical reconstruction in order to bring themselves into line with the cause defended by the movement. New activists take part in an Identitaire camp where they learn to identify their regional and racial ‘roots’, which they set out to defend in the face of a supposed migratory invasion. This experience continues in the local sections, where they recompose their ordinary practices in contact with their peers to bring them into line with their commitment. However, activists are more likely to stay in the organisation if it reinforces their previous socialisation.