posted 12th January 2026
The world looks like a dangerous place at the start of 2026. Emboldened by his successful abduction of Venezuela’s president, Nicolas Maduro, Donald Trump is now turning his attention to Greenland, Colombia, Cuba, maybe even Canada. In Europe, Russia is prodding its neighbours beyond Ukraine with drones and cyberattacks. Many experts say war with Russia is a case of when not if.
Is it time to introduce compulsory military service in the UK? About a third of countries around the world have a period of compulsory military service, mostly just for men. Five countries (Cape Verde, Chad, Israel, Morocco and North Korea) include women. In Britain, the only time there has been compulsory military service in peacetime has been from 1949 to 1963.
For military service
Pragmatic
We live in a dangerous world, and we need to protect ourselves and our country at a moment’s notice. It takes a long time to build up well trained armed forces. Russia, or any other enemy, will not give us notice if they attack; we need to be ready with a substantial standing army.
Having a large well trained army may actually prevent a war by deterring other countries from attacking us. As the proverb says, if you wish for peace, prepare for war.
Military service will make for a better workforce, which will be good for the economy. Young men will learn a range of useful skills, and will also learn habits of discipline and hard work. They will be able to travel the world and broaden their horizons.
Principled
If we want to have the benefits of a safe and secure nation, we have a duty to protect it. Military service helps to build a sense of national identity and community. Having a shared experience breaks down barriers of class, race and religion, and provides a sense of shared purpose.
Against military service
Pragmatic
Most people are not natural soldiers. The army would have to invest a huge amount of time and resources in training reluctant conscripts who would leave just as they were starting to get good at the job. Much better to have a tightly organised group of volunteers who have undergone a rigorous selection process. They can still be bulked out with conscription if a war breaks out.
Having your career or education put on hold and being forced into mindless, repetitive tasks at a formative age is the worst possible start for a young man. Anecdotal evidence from those who experienced national service in the 1950s and 1960s suggests that the resentment it induced encouraged young men to lie, steal and cheat as much as they could get away with. Far from teaching good working habits and discipline, military service will breed a generation of surly skivers.
Principled
In a democracy, no one should be forced into a job they have not chosen, still less one in which their life may be put in danger. Forcing people to work for the state is the mark of a tyrannical dictatorship. Many people have principled objections to violence, and these should be respected. We may be forced to fight in a war we do not believe in. Old men start wars, young men die in them.
Motions that go with this topic
This house would introduce a year's military service for all 18 year old men / 18 year old men and women
