National Security Reform: The French Approach

摘要

Before last spring, France had only published two White Papers on Defense: - the first one, in 1972, was obviously marked by the Cold War context and laid out an 'all-deterrence' approach; - the second one, in 1994, drew lessons from the end of the Cold War, as well as from Desert Storm and Balkans operations. It insisted on the importance of forces projection. It was followed in 1995 by the end of national draft and the professionalization of the French armed forces, one of the deepest reforms France undertook in the recent years. In the 2007 presidential race, the need for a new White Paper was a point of consensus. France was facing difficult questions - about doctrine, equipment programs and operational organization - that would better be served by a global approach. So, soon after taking office, President SARKOZY tasked a large Commission to draft France's third White Paper. The White Paper begins by an assessment of the international strategic context and its possible evolutions up to 2025. Globalization is considered the major driving force. Since the end of the Cold War, indeed, it has transformed the economic, social and political environment, the paradigms of national and international security and the assumptions of France's policy 'in both positive and negative ways'. And this process is still going on. This presentation discusses the following topics: (1) A Globalized Environment - Under this section, the White Paper draws some conclusions covering External Security and Domestic Security, State and Non- State Actors, Risks, Threats and Vulnerability, Uncertainty , National Security; (2) Five Strategic Functions - Knowledge and Anticipation, Prevention Deterrence, Protection, Intervention; (3) Policy and Organizational Consequences - International Approach, Military Capabilities, Organizational and Legal Reforms, The Importance of Civilian Response Policy and Organization Consequences -A Globalized En; (4) A more Open Debate and (5) Issues Under Discussion.