(Dis)utilities of Force in a Postcolonial Context: Explaining the Strategic Failure of the French-Led Intervention in Mali

Bertrand, Eloïse; Chafer, Tony; Stoddard, Ed

Abstract

Employing the concept of ‘utility of force' and advancing a new counterpart – the ‘disutility of force' – this article explores why France's military intervention in Mali failed despite a major French material power advantage over the armed groups it was combatting. We explore how France’s military approach, unable to adapt appropriately to a changing context, not only failed to generate political utility in the form of a resolution to the conflict, but actually created disutilities of force that deepened it. This failure reignited postcolonial tensions that both increased the intractability of the conflict and made it harder to change course.

Citation

Bertrand, E., Chafer, T., & Stoddard, E. (2024). (Dis)utilities of Force in a Postcolonial Context: Explaining the Strategic Failure of the French-Led Intervention in Mali. Journal of Intervention and Statebuilding, 18(3), 286-305. https://doi.org/10.1080/17502977.2023.2278268

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 24, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Nov 29, 2023
• Publication Date: 2024
• Deposit Date: Oct 25, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: May 30, 2025
• Journal: Journal of Intervention and Statebuilding
• Print ISSN: 1750-2977
• Electronic ISSN: 1750-2985
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 286-305
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17502977.2023.2278268
• Keywords: Mali, France, Utility of Force, Strategy, Sahel
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/26528130
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17502977.2023.2278268
• Additional Information: Peer Review Statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope.; Aim & Scope: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=risb20; Received: 2022-12-22; Accepted: 2023-10-24; Published: 2023-11-29