Conscription as Subject of National Security: Comparative Perspective in Europe at the Beginning of the 21st Century

The volume presents analysis of conscription models in six European countries, four of which continuously kept conscription (Estonia, Finland, Norway, and Switzerland), and two re-established conscriptions in recent years (Lithuania and Sweden). The first part of the book provides a description of country-specific aspects related to conscription. The second part is dedicated for an in-depth analysis of the following topics: attitudes towards defence forces; adaptation to conditions during conscription; motivation to do initial military service; unit cohesion during conscription; leadership in the context of conscription; intentions to move from conscription to military professionals. Empirical data was collected in 2021-2022 by 8783 recruits. The book is an outstanding source of knowledge and a practical tool for conscription models suitable for the certain country. The volume is of interest to defence practitioners and policy makers, researchers, teachers and students who focus on military sociology and defence politics.

About the Editors

Tibor Szvircsev Tresch is a lecturer on military sociology at the Military Academy at the ETH Zurich.

Vida Česnuityte is a Chief Researcher at the General Jonas Zemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania.

Kairi Kasearu is a professor of empirical sociology at the University of Tartu in Estonia.

Teija Sederholm is an adjunct professor at the Finnish National Defence University.

Johan Österberg is a researcher and senior lecturer at the Swedish Defence University.