Abstract
The French Army has not always enjoyed a harmonious relationship with its political leadership. Its sobriquet, the ‘Great Mute’ is something of a misnomer, as it is an institution that has certainly made its voice heard at several junctures in modern French history. Recently, the two Tribunes des Militaires (soldiers’ tribunes) expressed the fear among several retired and active officers and enlisted servicemen and women, that France is headed for ‘ruin’ and civil war. This study represents the first in-depth analysis of the tribunes, its connections to the far right, putschist pretentions and civil war rhetoric. This article positions these tribunes within the historical context of previous French military political interventions, examine its rhetoric and establish the extent to which it presents a far-right sponsored call to military insurrection. This analysis is of importance, given the seriousness of the claims made in the tribunes and the central significance of civil-military relations for any state.
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