French Arms Exports: The Business of Sovereignty [Paperback]

Ever since the establishment of the Fifth Republic in 1958, France has believed its strategic independence to be predicated on self-sufficiency in modern weapons. In order to maintain the requisite defence-industrial base, in the context of limited domestic orders, successive governments have prioritised the export of French arms on a large scale.

In this Adelphi book, Lucie B?raud-Sudreau provides a detailed, behind-the-scenes examination of the institutional arrangements that have underpinned Frances relatively liberal approach to arms sales over the years. The narrative begins during the Cold War, when France offered customers an alternative to reliance on one of the superpowers for their arms purchases, and then charts how the French arms-export system has responded to international political developments and dramatic changes in the global arms market. The book shows that, in general, Frances leaders and machinery of government have been resistant to the notion of restraining arms sales. It also looks to the future, arguing that France now faces a dilemma over whether to maintain its traditional course or accept a greater degree of export restraint as part of closer armaments cooperation with European partners.

Introduction  Chapter 1. The French arms export policy model  Chapter 2. The new post-Cold War arms market: competition, regulation and Europeanisation  Chapter 3. Ambiguities of the French arms export policy in the post-Cold War era  Chapter 4. Nicolas Sarkozys stimulus package for arms exports  Chapter 5. Rebalancing under the Socialists: Team France in service of arms sales  Conclusion: Time to change? The arms exports dogma against European aspirations

Lucie B?raud-Sudreau is a Senior Researcher and Director of the Arms and Military Expenditure lÃ'