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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

#21

Post by taway_1212 »

othello wrote: post #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

Soviet Union is (was) not Russia, it was a multinational empire, similar to Roman or Mongol Empries. AFAIK, Russia itself did not loose much (any?) territory after 1989.

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

#22

Post by fsloth »

gabipurcaru wrote: post #6

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

The value proposition depends on the country. For instance, Finland absolutely needs high level of support for it's concript army to stop Russia even of thinking of an attack (it's not about would it succeed but at what cost). Better to offer worse odds to the generals throwing dice in Kremlin or what ever other apparatus was responsible for Ukraine.

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

#24

Post by retox »

simo7 wrote: post #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.

You've touched on one theory of why European governments are seemingly so in favour of mass immigration; a people with no common identity are much less willing to go to war for it.

The theory goes that this is favourable for the wealthy euros in power because it lets them hold on to their wealth.

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

#25

Post by capex »

Having spent 9 years in the military, I can say with some confidence that even soldiers are not willing to fight a war. War is evil. No one looks forward to it (except the generals). But when its thrust upon you, you rise up to the occasion and defend your motherland.

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

#27

Post by draugadrotten »

Is the question "Will you fight a war for your Country?" even valid in today's Europe, with open borders and mass immigration of millions of non-citizens. Why would a German fight for the social construct "Germany", when his neighbour was given asylum on grounds of escaping military duty in his homeland?

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

#28

Post by lwansbrough »

macavaney wrote: post #19
lwansbrough wrote: post #8

I'd like to see North America, anyone know if this information is available?

Linked from the article: http://gallup-international.bg/en/Publications/2015/220-WIN-...

I'm having trouble accessing that. Press release from 2014 also available here: http://www.wingia.com/web/files/richeditor/filemanager/EOY_r...

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

#29

Post by dtx1 »

moccachino wrote: post #2

The Finns will save us! Also, can't blame the Germans for being unsure which side to be on in the next great war..

> Also, can't blame the Germans for being unsure which side to be on in the next great war..

Nah that's easy, we just look which side is losing and take that.

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

#30

Post by fsloth »

executesorder66 wrote: post #18
gabipurcaru wrote: post #6

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?

Historically the large powers have instigated conflicts as much as defended against incursion. So, I think it's highly context sensitive what sort of war people are thinking about depending on the country.
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