Les Réalités Multiculturelles: A Comparison of Anti-Racism in Béziers & Montpellier, France

This thesis investigates how anti-racist activism operates within the contrasting local contexts of Béziers and Montpellier, two neighboring cities in southern France with opposite political and sociocultural climates. While Béziers is governed by a far-right mayor who espouses exclusionary and Islamophobic policies, Montpellier projects a progressive identity rooted in multiculturalism and institutional support for anti-racism. Through archival research, interviews, and analysis of public discourse and municipal policy, this study reveals that despite superficial assumptions about the presence of activism, anti-racist mobilization is strong in both cities. However, the visibility, tactics, and governmental collaboration of activist groups are shaped by local political ideologies and sociological conditions. By tracing the evolution of anti-racist discourse nationally and situating local movements within broader postcolonial and neoliberal phenomena, this thesis highlights how institutional frameworks either enable or constrain grassroots resistance. Ultimately, this comparative case study highlights the key role of local governance in shaping the efficacy and direction of anti-racist efforts in contemporary France.