As we announced in last November’s issue, beginning this month the English edition of our journal is once again monthly, but digital only. We have also decided to revert to the traditional title Revue Défense Nationale, commonly referred to in France as RDN. But our aim—to shed light on defence and security issues and encourage debate, and to inform the world outside France—remains unchanged.

We have selected four articles from this month’s French edition of RDN that we think reflect the main themes it covers: the strategic scene in 2010 and military society today. The first theme is dealt with in two pieces. Our Editor-in-Chief explains the specificity of French strategic ideas as a consequence of national interests and a history that is itself the result of the country’s geographical situation. And an article on the global strategic outlook by Olivier Kempf endeavours to steer a course between generalities that are safe but contribute little and predictions so detailed that they clearly ignore just how often the completely unexpected happens. The second strand in this month’s RDN is represented by Michel Klen’s essay on women in the armed forces and their increasingly evident role today. Lastly, we have included a review by Eugène Berg of books on Russia published last year in French. We make no apologies for this: greater understanding of the former superpower, with which France is strengthening its ties, can only be a good thing.

This is a new beginning for us. We welcome your views on the journal; our address is contact@defnat.com. Best wishes for 2010 from RDN.