Why is Gen-Z So Anti-Military?

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While many European nations have begun increasing their defence budgets in the last few months, a key problem remains on the cards: military personnel. In this video, we’re taking a look at Europe’s conscription crisis, why it’s become so hard to recruit young people, and what would it take to get Gen Z onboard.

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Europe’s shortage of soldiers:
https://www.dw.com/en/german-military-faces-massive-shortage-of-soldiers/a-71888740
https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/czech-army-faces-critical-shortage-of-soldiers/
https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2020/03/02/western-european-armies-have-shrunk-dramatically
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eastern-europes-armies-struggle-enlist-young-people-with-war-not-far-away-2024-08-09/
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/europes-military-personnel-shortfalls-exposed-trump-warns-us-119784578
https://www.ft.com/content/30594f17-6a55-4189-afda-57cdf0176841

German conscientious objectors
https://themunicheye.com/rising-conscientious-objection-germany-ukraine-conflict-13037

European polls for military support
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/just-over-11-of-young-brits-would-take-up-arms-for-britain-poll/3478768
https://yougov.co.uk/international/articles/51741-where-does-western-europe-stand-o[…]m_source=website_article&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=51741

Why young people are resisting enlisting
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/jan/28/plummeting-morale-low-pay-unjust-wars-it-is-no-wonder-young-people-resist-joining-up

Germany’s youth flock to radical parties
https://www.economist.com/international/2024/04/17/would-you-really-die-for-your-country
https://www.tagesschau.de/wahl/archiv/2025-02-23-BT-DE/charts/umfrage-alter/chart_1874795.shtml

Europe debates return of conscription
https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/donald-tusk-poland-national-service-xkz0pbxqq
https://cepa.org/article/latvia-poised-to-return-to-conscription-as-russian-menace-grows/
https://www.dutchnews.nl/2024/01/ministry-considers-compulsory-questionnaire-for-military-service/
https://www.vecernji.hr/vijesti/je-li-mjesec-dana-dovoljno-za-vojni-rok-strucnjaci-nitko-ne-pita-struku-trebamo-uciti-od-drugih-1742011
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/03/07/poland-to-train-every-adult-male-for-war/
https://evrimagaci.org/tpg/macron-to-overhaul-national-service-amid-security-concerns-264304

Scandinavian model of conscription
https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2024/07/europes-conscription-challenge-lessons-from-nordic-and-baltic-states?lang=en

00:00 – Introduction
01:21 – Context
02:46 – Why European Armies Are Struggling to Recruit
05:55 – What the European Countries Are Doing About It
07:31 – Sponsored Content

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