The French Military Reserve: Real or Abstract Force?

Abstract

This article reports on the current status of the system of the French military reserve. By reviewing a brief history of France’s military, the author shows the existing ambivalence regarding the establishment of a permanent part-time force. In France, conscription was suspended in 1996, and a smaller professional military was created. This smaller force required a review of the needs and role of the French reserve force. Today, in France there are two reserve types: the operational and the ‘‘citizen’’ reserves. Each is examined in terms of its activities and the role, profiles, and motivations of its members. This analysis sheds light on the initial question of whether the French reserve is a real or an abstract force. The French military reserve plays not just a symbolic but also a purposive role, although essentially limited to the national territory.