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Most Scandinavian nations have mandatory conscription. I wonder if requiring all citizens to serve isn't preferable to establishing a military that ultimately c

by nir 15y ago

Most Scandinavian nations have mandatory conscription. I wonder if requiring all citizens to serve isn't preferable to establishing a military that ultimately consists of those who have fewer alternatives for making a living. As for obedience to political leaders, you have it completely backwards. A professional military staffed mostly by the underclass is much more convenient to political leaders. Military adventures are much easier when most people don't personally know any soldier. Think about Vietnam vs. later conflicts.

grandalf 15y ago
Those are good points.
Ras_ 15y ago
"Military service holds a vaulted position in Israeli’s entrepreneurial culture. Many start up founders attribute their success to those post-adolescent years spent following orders and memorizing technical manuals in specialized army units." Unfortunately this only seems to work in Israel. From a Scandinavian perspective, and personal experience in the Finnish Defence Forces, our conscription and entrepreneurship seem to have nothing to do with each other. Our service does provide connections, but they don't readily turn into businesses. Perhaps because there is nothing like the current threats around Israel. Thus there is less procurement etc. Finland's and Israel's aerospace/weapons industries have surprisingly much common history. We had the leg up after WW2 until about 80's. Tampella (mostly known for grenade launchers) and other Finnish manufacturers provided quite many designs (for example Israel's Galil rifle was based on a design licensed from Finland) and consulted in the development of Israel's armament industry. Nowadays the tables have turned - Finland buys a lot of defense materiel from Israel. Scandinavian countries already have quite selective conscription. International op requirements and cutbacks seem to be leading to rapid professionalization (very apparent in Sweden). Soon Finland could be the only N. European country with mandatory conscription, since it's the only non-Nato country which borders Russia. Military & entrepreneurship: Very interesting pair. Remember Steve Blank's Secret History of Silicon Valley? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFSPHfZQpIQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFSPHfZQpIQ

by nir 15y ago

grandalf 15y ago

Those are good points.

Ras_ 15y ago

"Military service holds a vaulted position in Israeli’s entrepreneurial culture. Many start up founders attribute their success to those post-adolescent years spent following orders and memorizing technical manuals in specialized army units." Unfortunately this only seems to work in Israel. From a Scandinavian perspective, and personal experience in the Finnish Defence Forces, our conscription and entrepreneurship seem to have nothing to do with each other. Our service does provide connections, but they don't readily turn into businesses. Perhaps because there is nothing like the current threats around Israel. Thus there is less procurement etc. Finland's and Israel's aerospace/weapons industries have surprisingly much common history. We had the leg up after WW2 until about 80's. Tampella (mostly known for grenade launchers) and other Finnish manufacturers provided quite many designs (for example Israel's Galil rifle was based on a design licensed from Finland) and consulted in the development of Israel's armament industry. Nowadays the tables have turned - Finland buys a lot of defense materiel from Israel. Scandinavian countries already have quite selective conscription. International op requirements and cutbacks seem to be leading to rapid professionalization (very apparent in Sweden). Soon Finland could be the only N. European country with mandatory conscription, since it's the only non-Nato country which borders Russia. Military & entrepreneurship: Very interesting pair. Remember Steve Blank's Secret History of Silicon Valley? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFSPHfZQpIQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFSPHfZQpIQ