The Political and Cultural Roots of Negationism in France

This article examines the history of the Holocaust Denial, or "negationism" in France. The author, who headed a French government commission to research and report on the phenomenon at the University of Lyon-III, where there have been numerous examples of the phenomenon involving students, faculty, and administration, describes the phenomenon at Lyon and the circumstances and individuals involved. He also traces the history of "negationism" from the early postwar period, where it was linked, at least initially to French fascism and collaboration with the Nazis, through its links to the extreme Left and currently, Islamic extemism. The author discusses the major figures associated with negationism including Maurice Bardèche, Paul Rassinier, Robert Faurisson, and Roger Garaudy.