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This bunch of “unmotivated young men/people” are the least likely to get a war eagerly started but are REALLY only willing to fight if it’s necessary (e.g someo

This bunch of “unmotivated young men/people” are the least likely to get a war eagerly started but are REALLY only willing to fight if it’s necessary (e.g someone invading their home country and firing artillery at their home village). In most countries the military doesn’t serve “the people” but the will of politics. If a big portion of your military IS YOUR SOCIETY (e.g., young men very happily doing a lot of stuff except bombing the shit out of a random country) - it reduces the risk of some bogus operation. Having conscripts as an important foundation of your military can bring a lot of peace and stability… Maybe you want to read up a bit on the Vietnam war and how the public was deceived; it isn’t just much “sending conscripts over to a overseas to die for some piece of dirt” - if conscripts see no purpose in fighting over that patch of land, maybe politicians shouldn’t either !?

jemmyw 3y ago
> Having conscripts as an important foundation of your military can bring a lot of peace and stability I don't think there's any evidence for that one way or the other. I think you could also make a convincing argument that a professional military with a higher bar of recruits and a strong standing in law is less likely to do random shit for politicians. I'm not making that argument, just saying you need to back up such assertions.
- looping__lui 3y ago
  Switzerland, Germany (post-WWII until somewhat recently) versus like UK, US, France? If your military consists of your society instead of a “professionally hired military” that only answers to politicians instead of their girlfriends, mums n dads - I’d argue: less military “peace missions” abroad? Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya - rings a bell? You think you could have send conscripts there? “Strong standing in law” - Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya; you think the PEOPLE of these countries would agree???

jemmyw 3y ago

> Having conscripts as an important foundation of your military can bring a lot of peace and stability I don't think there's any evidence for that one way or the other. I think you could also make a convincing argument that a professional military with a higher bar of recruits and a strong standing in law is less likely to do random shit for politicians. I'm not making that argument, just saying you need to back up such assertions.

looping__lui 3y ago
Switzerland, Germany (post-WWII until somewhat recently) versus like UK, US, France? If your military consists of your society instead of a “professionally hired military” that only answers to politicians instead of their girlfriends, mums n dads - I’d argue: less military “peace missions” abroad? Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya - rings a bell? You think you could have send conscripts there? “Strong standing in law” - Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya; you think the PEOPLE of these countries would agree???