Conscription Reloaded? The Debate About Compulsory Service in Germany in 2022 and the Peoples’ Attitudes Towards It

Jäckle Sebastian ()
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Jäckle Sebastian: University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

Statistics, Politics and Policy, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 65-89

Abstract: In mid-2022, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier spoke out in favour of introducing compulsory service in Germany. Against the backdrop of the Bundeswehr restructuring, necessitated by the war in Ukraine, and the worsening personnel shortage in the social sector and in nursing care, he revived a debate that had been recurring in Germany for decades. Based on an online survey of more than 7,300 people, this article examines how Germans feel about compulsory service and what factors are associated with this attitude. More than 63% of respondents are in favour of compulsory service. Psychological factors such as solidarity, sense of duty, extraversion and openness play just as important a role as political attitudes. People who position themselves more right-wing/nationalist/traditional view compulsory service more positively than liberal and left-wing respondents. In terms of voting intention, CDU/CSU and AfD supporters in particular support a general compulsory service, whereas it is less strongly supported by Greens, SPD and FDP supporters and even rejected by a majority of Left supporters. Another key factor for the evaluation of compulsory service is the respondents’ own experience with completed service. Respondents who have done military service view compulsory service more positively than those who have done community service. Those who have regular voluntary commitments also view compulsory service positively.

Keywords: conscription; compulsory service; online survey; Big 5; voluntary commitment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1515/spp-2022-0020

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