In Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, two-thirds or more of citizens said they were ready to fight.
After the start of Russia’s massive invasion of Ukraine, European countries realized the need to increase their armed forces. In particular, Germany plans to increase the number of its troops from 182 to 203 thousand in 2030, and France – from 240 to 275 thousand people. Poland expects to recruit more than 20 thousand people by the end of 2024, and over time the size of its army will increase from the current 197 thousand to 300 thousand people. The Economist conducted a study to understand if countries can do this.
Young people don’t want to serve
The publication comes to this conclusion. This is indirectly proven by the results of the World Values Survey (WVS), where respondents were asked the question “Are you ready to fight for your country?” Only 36% of survey participants aged 16 to 26 answered yes. The study was conducted in more than 60 countries from 2017 to 2022.
The Economist calls this result “expected,” explaining that citizens of rich countries “are not ready to sacrifice themselves for the good of the country.” Journalists also quoted the words of German political scientist Herfried Münkler, who called Western democracies “post-heroic” societies in which the preservation of human life and personal well-being are considered supreme. value.
History also influences citizens’ willingness to fight, journalists say. In countries that lost World War II, this number was lower.
However, in some rich countries the level of willingness of young people to fight remains high. For example, in France this was said by 58% of WVS respondents. This number is even higher in Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea. In Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, two-thirds or more of citizens said they were ready to fight. Journalists note that this indicator is influenced by the proximity of countries to conflict zones.
Money issue
In addition, recruiters face an economic obstacle when recruiting volunteers: young people are in demand in some professions, and the army has difficulty competing with the private sector in terms of attracting personnel . The publication states that in the European Union from 2015 to 2023, the unemployment rate among people aged 15 to 24 years will decrease from 22.4% to 14.5%.
Amidst all the difficulties in recruiting volunteers, discussions about the return of conscription continued in some countries. The Economist cites the example of Sweden, which, due to a lack of volunteers, reinstated compulsory service in 2018 several years after it was abolished.
At the same time, the journalists noticed some features of the Swedish system that could be a guide for other countries. In particular, all Swedish citizens over the age of 19 are required to fill out a special questionnaire, but most potential conscripts are eliminated during the selection process. Thus, the most suitable candidates are recruited into the army, making the service itself more prestigious. In addition, according to Swedish authorities, about 30% of conscripts remain in the army after completing compulsory service.
Other people’s work
“In liberal societies, a significant portion of the population has come to view military service as someone else’s job. Continuation of compulsory military service may prove politically and practically unfeasible for the same reason that there are not enough volunteers: citizens feel isolated from the armed forces,” the publication concludes.
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.