Overview

• Philippe Baptiste declared that islamo-gauchisme is not a recognized or well-defined academic concept and does not exist on campus.
• His statement reverses Frédérique Vidal’s 2021 warnings and follows an unfulfilled pledge to commission a CNRS inquiry into alleged campus radicalization.
• Journal reports show scholars studying Islamism were sidelined and some conferences censored, illustrating ongoing tensions over ideological labels in universities.
• Philosopher Pierre-Henri Tavoillot disputes the denial, arguing that islamo-gauchisme is a clearly identified ideology present in higher education.
• The exchange underscores broader contradictions in Macron’s administration over ideological consistency and balancing free inquiry with security concerns.