Politics

4 in 10 Brits would try to dodge the WW3 draft

100 years since the end of World War One, the prospect of another global conflict in the near future may for some not feel so far fetched. With geopolitical tensions rising in critical areas around the world, what if 'World War Three' really did break out? Would people in Great Britain accept a reintroduction of conscription, or would they do all they could to avoid it?

According to a recent survey by YouGov, 39 percent of 18 to 40 year olds (the initial age range for conscription during World War one) would attempt to dodge any kind of mandatory enrollment in the military. Opposition to forced military service is certainly not a new phenomena, though. Back in 1916, a few months after the introduction of conscription, over 200,000 people demonstrated against it in Trafalgar Square and many across the country did not initially respond to their call-up. Nevertheless, roughly 2.5 million men were conscripted over the course of the war.

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This chart shows British attitudes towards military conscription in 2018.

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If a new world war broke out and the UK was under imminent threat of invasion, which of the following would you do?
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If Britain joined a war tomorrow of similar severity to World War II, but without compulsory conscription, would you join the armed forces?
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If there were a war that involved the UK, would you be willing to fight for your country?
Do you favor or oppose reinstating the military draft in the United States? (2011, by age)
Views on whether Norway should keep conscription in 2024, by age
Annual number of United States military personnel conscripted via the draft from 1964 to 1973

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