Faced with the challenge to the international order, Germany has reintroduced a form of military service[1] and the UK is considering following suit. This subject has become a major political issue in France. How credible would a comeback to military service be today, and in what form?
The return of the idea of military service in political circles presents an opportunity for the armed forces. Conscription may seem outdated, but a renewed, innovative military service could help meet new operational needs. The real challenge is to make it credible among young people. Breaking with the conscription model that France experienced in the 20th century is a necessary condition.
The myth of compulsory military service: an image that needs to be overcome to make the return of a form of conscription credible
National service: between myth and reality
Faced with the challenge of defending the nation, the Jourdan law of 1798 instituted conscription, which was soon based on the principle of drawing lots. Under the First Empire, Napoleon drew nearly three million conscripts from the nation, permanently weakening French demographics. Throughout the 19th century, only a small number of citizens were selected by lot for military service. It was then possible for the wealthiest to pay for a replacement. As a result, conscription became unequal. It was not until 1905 that the Third Republic established national service for all, with no exceptions.
In its report on the 1996 Finance Bill, the French Senate pointed out the inequalities and called for a reform of national service. In 1994, there were only 262,226 conscripts, 22,365 of whom did civilian service, out of an age group of almost 800,000 young people. Little by little, military service lost its meaning. In 1914, it enabled an army of almost 3.8 million men to be raised. A turning point came after the contingent was sent to Algeria. The conscription of soldiers outside France became a taboo subject for the French. The refusal to send conscripts to
