Resilience, Patriotism, and Defensive Spirit in French Society: Practices Applicable to Small States

Abstract France’s resilience model highlights the notion of the defensive spirit. Resilience is the capacity of a system to experience disturbance and still maintain its ongoing functions and controls. Nevertheless, for states to develop resilience practices, they need to strengthen the sense of belonging to the nation. No resilience without patriotism; no patriotism without a Defensive spirit. Resilience, defensive spirit, and patriotism are connected. Their common factor: the individual and collective sense of belonging to the nation. The French’s case shows factors associated with recommendations to be applied to the Baltic States, such as understanding our national history, building patriotism from the Society, construction of common values fundamental to national cohesion; strengthening the National Guard to deal with military threats; integrate the army and the nation into a unified community.