The emergence of a radical right-wing in Mexico? The case of the Anti-AMLO National Front

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to analyze and determine the cause that influence the emergence of a conservative movement in Mexico called "Frente Nacional Anti-Amlo" (FRENAAA), which mobilizes a rhetoric framed in conservatism (discursive axes and narrative framework) through the use of innovative mechanisms of persuation. The discursive strategy seeks to establish an identity bourdary between (us)others, on the one hand, by arduously defending Mexican identity and its values and, on the other hand, by raising a xenophobic and anti-communists discourse. For this research, we follow the theoretical approaches of the specialized literature on the radical right in the West and Latin America. We developed our analysis by comparing them with the Mexican situation, through a quantitative analysis (national conditions and social perceptions) and a qualitative analysis (discourse analysis). We show that, although AMLO's coming to power reinforced the polarization between supporters and detractors, in the context of the health pandemic, the FRENAAA movement has taken on an unprecedented mediatization. We realice that it has been able to capture the moment, trends and feelings, anchoring itself in the disaffection towards democracy and the party. We show that FRENAAA is part of the ultra-right movements, incorporating purely Latin American components.