Deploying French forces on French soil: Using the armed forces to combat domestic terrorism and the implications for civil-military relations

Abstract

2683817E Deploying French forces on French soil Using the armed forces to combat domestic terrorism and the implications for civil-military relations Abstract For civilian observers, it is not always clear whether violence is a military threat or one that can be countered by traditional law enforcement means. Terrorism in its various manifestations contributes to this confusion, as the war on terror has been waged since 2001 in Afghanistan and Iraq, for example, in a decisive and high-visibility military effort. But why it makes a difference to fight the same terrorist group in a different way in your own country is the subject of this paper. Using the case of France and its ongoing struggle against domestic Islamist terror, it shows what it means when a state uses its military not only to fight abroad, but also to protect its civilian population at home. The political decision to deploy 10,000 soldiers in Opération Sentinelle to protect the homeland is examined against the background of current civil-military relations in France, their origins, development and configuration. The impact of this decision on civil-military relations is carefully considered in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the situation. The analysis focuses on how this measure has affected the interactions and dynamics...