Action Française (post 1945)

Action Française is a French royalist and nationalist political movement that restructured in 1947 after its pre-war iteration was disbanded following the Liberation of France. Revived under the leadership of Maurice Pujo, it launched the newspaper Aspects de la France and the counter-revolutionary organization Restauration Nationale. Despite the death of its prominent leader Charles Maurras in 1952, the movement persisted, although it struggled to maintain relevance as monarchism waned in popularity and French far-right politics evolved.

In the decades following World War II, Action Française saw internal divisions, leading to splinter groups like the Nouvelle Action Royaliste in 1971, which sought to modernize royalist ideology. While its influence diminished, the movement continued through various publications and associations, with figures such as Pierre Pujo leading efforts to preserve its legacy. By the late 20th century, the movement’s focus on Catholic social teaching, traditional French culture, and Euroscepticism allowed it to influence broader far-right currents, including the National Rally. Today, Action Française positions itself as a think tank advocating for a decentralized monarchy, French sovereignty, and resistance to European federalism.