Deputy Director of the CEVIPOF (Sciences Po Paris) and Emeritus Director of Research at the CNRS, sociologist and political scientist Anne Muxel directed the 'Defence and Society' field at the Strategic Research Institute of the École Militaire (IRSEM) from 2017 to 2023. It was within this framework that she carried out the study "Young people and war - Representations and willingness to commit", published last April.
A recognised specialist in youth studies (particularly the transmission of values, the phenomena of memory, and the processes of socialisation in generational dynamics), she based her work on a representative sample of the 18-25 age group. The study provides a detailed picture of young people's views on the French armed forces and wars, as well as their positions on nuclear deterrence, NATO membership and the creation of a European defence system. It also sheds light on their ability to anticipate the threats looming in tomorrow's world.
WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO CARRY OUT THIS STUDY, AND HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT IT?
This study responds to the concerns of the Ministry of the Armed Forces regarding, in addition to knowledge of representations of past wars as well as present and future wars, the resilience of the younger generation in the event of a major conflict in which France finds itself involved. This study was entrusted to me when I was head of the 'Defence and Society' department at IRSEM, and was funded by the Ministry's Directorate General for International Relations and Strategy (DGRIS).
It is based on a robust methodology, consisting of a quantitative survey conducted in July 2023 among a sample of 3,000 young people aged between 18 and 25, representative of the French youth population in this age bracket. A detailed questionnaire, taking into account a number of working hypotheses developed in consultation with the sponsors of the study, was used to collect and analyse the responses from this sample. The survey was conducted by IPSOS under the most rigorous conditions required for quantitative surveys.
The theme of the army-nation link is central to understanding the way in which young people envisage not only the framework for exercising their citizenship, but also more broadly the conditions for national cohesion.
At a time of crisis in political representation and great mistrust of many institutions, young French people also have to deal with a whole range of threats, including the risks of war, the consequences of global warming and pandemics. In their list of concerns, war does not rank first but fourth, but it is very present in their perceptions of the future situations that their generation could face.
ONE OF THE LESSONS YOU'VE LEARNED IS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE "RELATIVELY CLOSE" TO THE MILITARY. HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THIS? IS THERE A LINK WITH THE CURRENT CONFLICTS, IN UKRAINE FOR EXAMPLE?
Young French people have a very positive view of the military. It enjoys a particularly high level of confidence and is not experiencing a crisis of legitimacy. In a world in transition, against a backdrop of multiple threats, it stands out as a benchmark with specific resources and skills that are recognised.
Today's younger generation has moved away from the anti-militarism that was prevalent among young people, at least on the left, at the end of the 1970s. With the end of compulsory military service, grievances and opposition to the army have been marginalised. Since the turn of the millennium, the terrorism that has regularly struck France and its people has undoubtedly changed young people's perception of the role and usefulness of the French armed forces.
The conflict zones in Africa and the Middle East, where they are engaged in the fight against political Islamism and jihadism, are well identified by young people. Fiction, through television series, films and video games, has contributed to this awareness of the role played by the French army in these new armed conflicts and the hybrid wars that are developing.
"THEY ARE RELATIVELY WELL INFORMED ABOUT CURRENT CONFLICTS
The survey showed that they are relatively well informed about current international conflicts. For example, a large majority of them follow the news of the war between Ukraine and Russia, but they also pay attention to the situation in the Gaza Strip and the war between Israel and Hamas, particularly in the student segments of the youth population.
The attention paid by young people to humanitarian issues has also enhanced the positive image of our armed forces. The expansion of their missions to include health and humanitarian actions (Lebanon, Darfur, Sahel) has changed the purely warlike image of the military. They are appreciated for the protection and mutual aid they can provide to disaster-stricken populations or those who have suffered climatic disasters.
It should not be forgotten that during the Covid 19 pandemic, the civilian authorities called on the military for their skills and their ability to mobilise in the management of the health crisis. As a result, the scope of military action has widened and young people have taken on board the diversification of military functions, including through the Sentinel operations with which they have become familiar and which are part of their daily urban environment.
ANOTHER RATHER UNEXPECTED FINDING IS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE SEEM TO BE READY FOR MILITARY INVOLVEMENT, INCLUDING IN HIGH-INTENSITY CONFLICTS. CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THIS?
The willingness of the younger generation to make a military commitment is far from negligible, affecting four out of ten young people, a relatively constant proportion over the last twenty years or so. Certain major events, particularly in 2015 following the series of attacks affecting the country, have even triggered a surge in support for this type of commitment. These favourable attitudes do not automatically translate into concrete action, far from it, but they do confirm the good image of the armed forces and their relative attractiveness.
In addition, for many young people, training and career opportunities offer prospects of social, economic and professional integration that can guarantee their autonomy. However, these favourable conditions do not prevent the armed forces from encountering problems in recruiting and, above all, retaining young recruits.
But over and above these general attitudes, and contrary to what might be expected, the study also reveals the revival of a certain patriotism in the new generation. Young people have taken on board the reality of the threat of war, including at global level, in connection with the geopolitical upheavals on the international scene and the possible extension of certain current conflicts, which could involve France directly. Faced with the prospect of major conflicts on French soil, their resilience is evident in their responses. A large majority of them feel concerned and say they could fight, either in the military or as civilians, to defend their country.
"THE SPIRIT OF DEFENCE IS VERY MUCH IN THE MINDS OF THE YOUNGER GENERATION".
More than half of them believe that the use of nuclear weapons will be unavoidable. This patriotism extends beyond the national framework, as a significant proportion of young people say they are also prepared to get involved in conflicts involving other countries. The spirit of defence is therefore very much in the minds of the younger generation, as it is in their perceptions of the future, where the prospect of a world without war seems to be receding.
The army-nation link appears to be stronger among young men than among young women. Nevertheless, the willingness of young women to get involved is far from negligible, with four out of ten feeling concerned and possibly ready to fight.
The study therefore challenges many preconceived ideas about young people. They are not only committed, but also fairly well informed and realistic about the threats and reconfigurations on the international scene.
