Speaker
Description
French nuclear thinking reflects the aphorism “Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose,” which translates as “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Although France’s nuclear strategy has evolved, the way the French think about nuclear deterrence remains anchored in a certain tradition. This thesis aims to show how this is possible. The research questions are: How has traditional French nuclear thinking been sustained over time in the face of shifting strategic imperatives? What practices within the nuclear ecosystem reinforce this continuity, and how are they exercised?
It is well established that the genesis of the French nuclear approach has its roots in the early years of the Cold War. Since then, the French have worked to protect this heritage. Overall, the state’s nuclear policy has remained largely unchanged, having “enjoyed remarkable continuity” (Jurgensen and Mongin 2018, 24). This does not mean that the French nuclear strategy remains unchanged since its inception. Instead, it suggests that the core of the French approach to nuclear deterrence has remained consistent with the strategic thinking developed during the Cold War.
This study examines the continuity of French nuclear strategy, exploring how principles established during the early Cold War have been sustained despite international and domestic pressures. It focuses on three historical periods—1991–1995, 2001–2009, and 2014–2025—and analyzes nuclear practices as socially embedded, capturing how continuity is maintained. Using a history-of-ideas perspective, practice tracing, textual analysis, and interviews with nuclear elites, this research identifies three key mechanisms, policing, symbolic reinforcement, and the echo chamber, through which the French nuclear ecosystem maintains continuity.
The French case is no exception: continuity is a choice and, like any strategic decision, involves trade-offs. Sometimes, trade-offs entail significant consequences. Yet continuity must prevail, requiring mechanisms to maintain and protect it even in the face of difficulties.
| If you are submitting an Open Panel proposal, have you included all four abstracts in attachment? | Yes, I have included all required information (see below). |
|---|---|
| Would you like to be considered for travel funding through the NetSec COST Action? | No |
| Are you a member of the NetSec Management Committee? | No |
| What discipline or branch of humanities or social sciences do you identify yourself with? | War Studies |
| Which of the following best describes your stage of the career? | PhD Candidate |
| In which country is your home institution? | Sweden |
| What is your gender? | Female |