Durieux, Benoît
The soldier and the policeman
- 2006.
48
At a time of growing uncertainty concerning the respective roles of the police forces and the armed forces, it is important to give careful thought to the logic underpinning these two institutions. When we go by simple appearances, what actually differentiates them is the use of force. In a situation of moral symmetry, to all intents and purposes, the soldier uses a form of collective violence, the ultimate aim of which is to negotiate with the enemy. However, there is always an idea of guilt behind any use of force by a police officer, which has the effect of personalizing it while at the same time limiting its intensity, without however compromising or diluting the letter of the law. Although the situations requiring the use of one or other of these two forms of logic are today somewhat blurred, in each case it nevertheless remains necessary to choose the solution best adapted to the situation in order to preserve our sovereignty externally, and the cohesion of our community at home.