Tanner for compulsory military service: saving, debates and no women's obligation!

Tanner for compulsory military service: saving, debates and no women's obligation!

Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP) cautiously reserved in the Ö1 series "In the Journal" with regard to military service. Despite the pressure of the military, which advocate an extension of the presence service by a year or two, Tanner emphasizes that it must also take into account the economic aspects. In this context, she refers to an already used working group that deals with the topic. Whether and how compulsory military service could develop remains questionable.

Tanner has also clarified that it rejects compulsory military service for women as long as no complete equality has been achieved. Your ministry is planning savings that should primarily affect advice, advertisements and business trips. The structuring of events is also being worked on; It is planned to have more events take place during the week to reduce costs for additional services. Her statements about the Airpower air show, which is scheduled to take place next year, remain vague, whereby she indicates the sponsors involved and the Styrian state policy.

compulsory conscription in the German context

In contrast, Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is positioned in Germany. As early as 2023, he addressed concepts such as "tuning" for the Bundeswehr and "fortificance" for society in the security policy discussion. In view of the current threat situation, the need for overall defense is discussed. The social expectations of military service are regularly addressed in public.

The debate on reintroduction of military service is not new. The AfD considers the suspension as a mistake and receives support from conservative parties. The new military service, which is intended to rely on voluntariness, was announced on November 6, 2024 as a cabinet decision. All young people aged 18 and over are contacted by the Bundeswehr to fill out a questionnaire. Male applicants are obliged to answer, while women can voluntarily participate. The duration of the service is between 6 and 23 months.

social commitment and security

Despite the information offers, surveys show that military service is not considered necessary for social commitment. Generation Z shows a strong interest in political issues such as climate change and social tensions. Worries about war, poverty and pollution have also increased, according to the Shell youth study 2024. Nevertheless, there is an increasing willingness to participate in society, and the number of applicants in the Bundeswehr rose by 15 percent from 2023 to 2024.

The discussion about military service could gain intensity again before the new elections in 2025. The topic of military justice and the injustices within the compulsory military service remain central. Historically, conscription was often linked to the nation state and the ideals of masculinity. Critical discourses on military service are not new in liberal democracies and demand a company service that also includes civil service.

The careful balance between security needs and social norms will be crucial in the coming years to ensure a capable and defensive society.