^aFaculty of Legal, Political and Social Sciences, University of Lille II, 1, Place Déliot, 59000 Lille, France

Abstract

This article treats a particular aspect of the Front national (FN) that has been noticeably neglected to date in France: the understanding of this party in 'campaigning mode'. From a methodological perspective, what lessons can be drawn from variation in the status of the researcher on the ground and at the time of the enquiry? Given this question, this article compares two research locations (the North-Flanders Federation and the local organization in Hénin-Beaumont in the Pas-de-Calais) to establish a cost–benefit analysis of the use of different modes of observation. (participant observation vs total immersion) and of two inherently distinct researcher–subject relationships. The article concludes by highlighting certain epistemological biases and pointing to concepts whose substance needs clarification: 'participant observation', 'empathy', 'immersion' and 'infiltration'.