CEPEL

Romain FARGIER

Presentation

With a multidisciplinary academic background and a wealth of experience in the banking, consulting, management, communications, higher education and digital sectors, I am currently a teacher and associate researcher at CEPEL. My work focuses on the evolution of electoral behavior and the diversification of participation and deliberation mechanisms. I also explore new politicization processes and alternative forms of expression that often break away from the classic deliberative model. In this vein, I study political communication and the influence of digital platforms on electoral dynamics and online activism. I'm particularly interested in the professionalization of political content creators and the alternative media strategies developed through social networks and opinion formats.

Training

  • PhD in Political Science, University of Montpellier, CEPEL
  • Master 2 in Comparative Public Policies, University of Montpellier
  • Master 2 Research in Political Studies, Information Valorization, Sciences Po Aix-en-Provence
  • Master 2 in Information & Communication Technology, University of Montpellier
  • Master 2 in the "Grande École" program, Montpellier Business School
  • Master 1 Science du Management, Montpellier Business School
  • Bachelor in International Business & Relations, La Trobe University, Melbourne

Selected papers, conferences and publications

  • "The imprint of the far right on contemporary political debates", JE, Lyon Lumière University, April 2025.
  • "Youtubeurs d'extrême droite: les nouveaux professionnels de la politique", ICCA Campus Condorcet, 20 years of video creation, October 17, 2024.
  • "Coûts et rétributions des youtubeurs politiques", AFSP Congress, Grenoble, July 5, 2024.
  • (In progress) "Alternative Mediatization of Politics: Self-Media, Web TV, and Opinion Channels", book chapter, Cahiers Protagoras, ed. L'Harmattan.
  • "Politisation des jeunes sur les plateformes", 8th Journées les enjeux des gouvernements ouverts et du numérique, Université Paris 1, November 2023.
  • "Youtubeurs: de nouveaux activistes?", Séminaire annuel des doctorants et jeunes chercheurs, Université de Montpellier, July 2023.
  • "Social networks and politics", UTT, Université Paul-Valéry, November 2023.
  • "YouTube, political space?", UTT, Université Paul-Valéry, March 2021.
  • "YouTube as a political sphere", 7th International Conference of Social Sciences, Ifrane University (Morocco), May 2021.

Selected articles and media coverage

  • Robby Starbuck: l'activiste américain qui veut faire tomber les entreprises woke, Le Soir, September 5, 2024
  • Jordan Bardella on TikTok: "Underneath this amateur format, there are thoughtful things that are worked on", Gurvan Kristanadjaja, Libération, June 21, 2024.
  • "Why web stars try to avoid talking politics, Sylvain Trinel and Salomé Ferraris, BFMTV, June 21, 2024.
  • Romain Fargier, researcher at CEPEL in Montpellier, Guillaume Roulland, France Bleu Hérault, June 19, 2024.
  • Legislatives 2024: how can TikTok influence the elections? Agence France Presse, RTL, June 15, 2024.
  • TikTok, a political communication tool not without impact on elections, Agence France Presse, 20 Minutes, June 13, 2024.
  • Le Pens Strategie der Normalisierung in Frankreich, Niklas Mönch, Deutschlandradio, June 4, 2024.
  • Han er ikke bare en fremadstormende politiker. Han er en berømthed, og han forstår at tryllebinde sit publikum, Julie Schneider, Berlingske, March 21, 2024.
  • Det yderste højre er den helt klare vinder: Stod det til TikTok og Facebook, ville de vinde valget i morgen, Julie Schneider, Berlingske, March 20, 2024.
  • Europe's far right uses TikTok to win youth vote, Clothilde Goujard, Elisa Braun and Mark Scott, Politico, March 17, 2024.
  • Les influenceurs politiques d'ultradroite sortent de l'ombre, France Culture, June 26, 2021.
  • How France's new wave of extreme-Right influencers led to Macron's humiliating slap, The Telegraph, June 13, 2021.
  • L'invité du 6h20 : Romain Fargier, France Inter Radio, June 8, 2021.

Skills

  • Research methodology: qualitative/quantitative analysis, semi-structured interviews, discourse analysis.
  • Multidisciplinary experience: economics, management, entrepreneurship, marketing, digital media, political science
  • Digital tools: SPSS, NVivo, Zotero.
  • Scientific communication: writing academic articles, popularization, media intervention.

Languages

  • French (mother tongue)
  • English (C2)
  • Spanish (B2)