This figure is higher than the number of people who said they would volunteer or accept conscription, but many more would be willing to fight if mainland Britain was under threat.
As we approach the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, European countries are increasingly preparing for conflict. Earlier this month, Sweden’s military commander said Swedes needed to “mentally prepare” for war with Russia.
Here in the UK this week, Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said: “We are moving from a post-war world to a pre-war world,” and Britain’s top army officer, General Sir Patrick Saunders, called for an increase in scale. He is a member of the military and the country needs to be better prepared for conflict, he said.
Although General Sanders stopped short of calling for military conscription, there is still speculation in the media about whether it will be introduced and whether today’s young people are willing to serve.
New YouGov research shows 38% of under-40s would refuse to serve in the army if there was a new world war, and 30% would refuse to serve in the army if the UK faced an imminent invasion. But he says he will not serve in the military.
The age range of 18 to 40 is similar to the age range first used by the British government for conscription in both World War I and World War II.
One in 14 (7%) said they would volunteer for military service if a world war broke out, rising to 11% if mainland Britain itself was threatened. Others said they would not serve in the military, but would resist conscription if the situation arose, 21% in the case of a world war and 23% in the specific case of Britain facing invasion. .
In both scenarios, about a third are unsure or think the military doesn’t want them because of their age or disability.
Women of draft age are more likely than men to refuse military service. 43% would do so if a world war broke out (compared to 32% of men) and 35% would do so if the British Isles were likely to go to war (compared to 25% of men).
If a world war broke out, 39% to 47% of men aged 18 to 40 would volunteer or accept the draft in either scenario, compared with 19% to 24% of women of the same age. .
Should women be drafted into the military in the event of a world war?
If conscription is introduced, a new question that governments will have to grapple with is whether women will be asked to serve on the front lines.
A majority of Americans (72%) say women should be drafted into the military. This includes 42% who think they should serve in the military on exactly the same basis as men, while 30% think there should be some restrictions on the roles they can perform (for example, not serving in the infantry).
Women are not particularly likely to say “I should” than men. do not have facing conscription (13% vs. 9%); However, women are more likely to think they should be restricted from certain roles: 34% compared to 26% of men.
Women of draft age (18-40) are most likely to say women should not be drafted (19%), but three times as likely (60%) say women should not serve in the military in some capacity. I think it should.
Photo: Getty
