Created in 2009, IRSEM is the strategic research institute of the French Ministry of Armed Forces and operates under the supervision of the Directorate General for International Relations and Strategy (DGRIS) operating under the umbrella of the Ministry for the Armed Forces.

IRSEM is home to a staff of about forty civilian and military permanent researchers. We are also proud to work with 10 postdoctoral and doctoral residents, interns, and students employed through “youth military contracts” (CAJ).

We have four main missions:

1) Research. IRSEM’s researchers are sent all over the world to conduct fieldwork. Our experts operate on two distinct levels: a) internal research answering the needs expressed by (the Ministry of Defence; b) external research intended for the wider strategic community, and published via multiple academic channels, such as the “Collections de l’IRSEM”, peer-reviewed books and journals. Publications are available both in French and in English.

2) “The next generation of strategic thinking.” The Institute seeks to foster the emergence of a new generation of researchers specialised in security and defence issues. To do so, the IRSEM regularly coordinates the work of PhD candidates its monthly seminars at the Ecole Militaire, as well as allocates grants and financial assistance directly to postdoctoral contracts. Moreover, younger researchers can benefit from the Institute’s extensive network. Since its foundation, the Institute has supported more than a hundred researchers in accordance to its “Next generation” program.

3) Contributing to higher military education our researchers give talks and classes at the École de Guerre (War College) and at the Centre for Higher Military Studies (CHEM). Officers studying at these institutions also benefit from the IRSEM staff’s mentoring skills as they can supervise their dissertations.

4) Contributing to public debate, through the media and open conferences. As IRSEM regularly organises public events in France and abroad. Our publications are available in multiple formats and languages (French and English). On top of this, our researchers' expertise and analysis are often quoted in the media.