The French Army played a decisive role vis-à-vis the country’s youth at the end of the nineteenth century. Following the defeat of 1870, the thinking, composition and influence of the military evolved both in France and its colonies. Universal military service, introduced in 1872, played a central part in that change, giving the Army a decisive social role. Today, ten years after the ending of conscription, the armed forces play a less prominent social role, whereas the youth of today, particularly the less privileged, are facing increasing difficulties. So is there a new need for social regeneration, and can the armed forces play a role in this?
Towards a New Social Role for the Military
‘Is there not therefore a “cadre”, in the military sense of the term, who is by his very nature capable of exercising wider powers than others, and if this cadre exists, is he not the first to recognise the need and urgency of social responsibility?’
Lyautey, Le rôle social de l’officier, 1891.
The concept of a social role(1) for the officer was raised by Captain Lyautey more than a century ago. At the time this reflected the need for national regeneration, recognised by political and military leaders overwhelmed by the defeat of 1870. The actions that resulted from this profoundly influenced the youth of the time, and contributed in a very concrete way to the shaping of the Third Republic. The benefits that resulted are not disputed by historians today. However, the lessons of history seem to have been sidelined for a dozen years, since the suspension of universal national service, with nothing to replace it. Today the subject has once again moved centre stage in response to the alarming social situation affecting a large part of our youth.
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