Peace Time: July 5, 2002

Archives

All Western European nations have dropped conscription, or are planning to, with the exception of Germany. This is not because of military necessity, bit because of the effect it would have on the health care system and the unemployment rate. Germany has long allowed (a growing number of) conscientious objectors perform alternate service. This usually meant doing menial jobs in hospitals and old age homes. If Germany dropped conscription, they would not be able to fill most of these jobs with Germans. This would cause more social friction as migrants were called upon to do the jobs. These jobs can't be left undone. Moreover, if all these young men weren't conscripted, most of them would be unemployed. The unemployment rate is already too high, and politicians are besides themselves trying to lower it. No one wants to admit this is the real reason conscription is still in force, but there it is.

 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   Contribute   Close