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Percentage of Europeans Who Are Willing to Fight a War for Their Country

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Re: Percentage of Europeans Who Are Willing to Fight a War for Their Country

#12
post #7

That's one of the rare moments where I feel that I can relate to my fellow countrymen - I'm German. Why would you 'fight a war for your country'? Given the way this is phrased that doesn't seem to talk about fighting in defense of one's country (I'd like to see the stats for that as well) unless my English as a foreign language skills fail me?

Exactly. Would I be willing to fight a war because a fascist superpower was killing millions of human beings in my country? Probably, yes. Would I risk my life to protect the Conservative Party and banking institutions? Less likely.

The second war (to protect the party and banking institutions) would be promoted like the first. Propaganda is a rather effective thing in wars.

Re: Percentage of Europeans Who Are Willing to Fight a War for Their Country

#13

That's one of the rare moments where I feel that I can relate to my fellow countrymen - I'm German. Why would you 'fight a war for your country'? Given the way this is phrased that doesn't seem to talk about fighting in defense of one's country (I'd like to see the stats for that as well) unless my English as a foreign language skills fail me?

I think the definition includes defence. Otherwise it would not be applicable in any foreseeable scenario to e.g. Finland.

Re: Percentage of Europeans Who Are Willing to Fight a War for Their Country

#14
The surprising fact here is that this can mostly be explained pretty well as the lessons of WW2 still being vivid in the memory of many countries...except that Russia suffered by far the most of any countries on the Western front, and still a majority there would fight a war for their own country.

The persistent glorification of Russia's role in WW2 (although historically justified) might have something to do with it. The amputation of a quarter of Russia's territory right after the end of the Cold War is also used to great effect by nationalists (just like Germany's territory was reduced, by the same proportion, in 1919 - with the same effects).

Re: Percentage of Europeans Who Are Willing to Fight a War for Their Country

#15
I think a strong pattern here is:

the more cultural/social homogeneity the more willingness to fight a war for your country.

See Italy, Spain, Belgium for instance: people from different area of those countries really feel belonging to different cultures. Contrari to the Nordic & Easter European ones. In Germany is more of a historical thing instead.

Re: Percentage of Europeans Who Are Willing to Fight a War for Their Country

#16
It looks like the closer you are to a thread, the most willing are you to fight.

Being close to Russian is a good indicator on how much you are willing to go to war.

So I agree with other comments, probably people that feels threatened read the question as "I'm willing to protect my country from an outside attacker". While people in "safer" places read it as "I'm willing to go to war with another country for some strategic/economic interest". (Judging by my own ethics, I guess)

Re: Percentage of Europeans Who Are Willing to Fight a War for Their Country

#17
post #4

Extra discussion: https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/comments/5q433o/percentage_... I am really curious about a more thourough breakdown of these numbers. I doubt immigrants would have the same interest in war as the natives.

> I doubt immigrants would have the same interest in war as the natives.

Often (a bad qualifier) immigrants (an ill-defined word) want to prove their willingness to integrate their hosting society much more than native that take things for granted (a very variable behavior depending on cultures).

Re: Percentage of Europeans Who Are Willing to Fight a War for Their Country

#18

the red and blue colors suggest that less is worse. Why would that be the case? It seems like it should ideally be the opposite, if anything

Do you think defending your country from invasion is worse than letting some assholes conquer your home?

Re: Percentage of Europeans Who Are Willing to Fight a War for Their Country

#20
post #3

Belgian here, as a resident of one of the bottom 3 countries I have to say I thought about this question myself a few times in the past. Even though I would never join the army to fight wars, should an occupation come I would do everything in my power to resist and sabotage. So to this question I would have to answer 'no' even though that doesn't mean I'd give up on my country.

So you wouldn't risk your life but you would risk your family's, friend's and colleagues instead?
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