Following the announcement of the 2024 UK general election, a significant policy proposal emerged from the Conservative Party: the reintroduction of National Service England. This initiative suggests a return to a concept not seen in the UK in its modern form since 1960, sparking considerable discussion and debate. The proposal outlines that all 18-year-old British citizens would be mandated to participate, choosing between volunteering with civilian community organisations for 25 days within a year or undertaking a year-long military training placement.
The core rationale, as articulated by the Prime Minister, is to cultivate a “shared sense of purpose among our young people and a renewed sense of national pride.” Furthermore, it aims to “address the fragmentation in society” by fostering greater civic engagement among the younger generation. This ambition to reconnect young people with national values and societal contributions positions national service England as a potential tool for social cohesion and national strengthening.
However, the concept of national service England, while seemingly novel in its current iteration, is rooted in historical precedent and remains a relevant model in numerous countries globally. While the UK once operated a national service system, many nations still maintain mandatory military or civilian service frameworks. Interestingly, in an increasingly uncertain global landscape, some countries are actively considering reinstating such schemes to bolster societal resilience. This raises a crucial question: Does national service, in its various forms, effectively achieve its intended goals? The RAND Corporation, renowned for its extensive research into national security and defense, has rigorously examined the efficacy of national service in contemporary contexts, offering valuable insights relevant to the ongoing discussion surrounding national service England.
The Role of National Service in Building Societal Resilience
Historically, many nations, including the United Kingdom, have employed mandatory conscription into their armed forces as a fundamental strategy to strengthen national defense capabilities. However, in recent times, a shift occurred, with many countries, the UK included, deeming traditional conscription methods inefficient and politically less appealing. This led to a preference for maintaining professional, volunteer-based military forces.
National service in England aims to promote a shared sense of purpose and national pride, potentially through military training, similar to exercises undertaken by British soldiers.
Nevertheless, the evolving security landscape of recent years has triggered a renewed interest in national service – encompassing both military and civilian forms – particularly in response to growing concerns about societal resilience. Societal resilience, while still debated in definition, generally refers to a society’s capacity to effectively recover and adapt in the face of crises. With contemporary security threats extending beyond traditional military conflicts to include urban terrorism, environmental disasters, and organized crime, a broad-based societal awareness and engagement are increasingly vital. Engaging a wider spectrum of society is also perceived as a crucial element in reinforcing effective deterrence, signaling a nation’s unified commitment to national defense.
‘Societal resilience’ is fundamentally about a society’s ability to bounce back and recover effectively from significant crises. Various indicators suggest that the United Kingdom faces challenges in achieving this desired level of societal engagement in matters of national security. Public opinion polls reveal a significant level of opposition among young people towards serving in the armed forces, even in scenarios of armed conflict. This reluctance is driven by multiple factors, including a diminishing number of individuals with familial connections to the Armed Forces, declining public support for military intervention, a prevailing perception that military threats are not the primary security concerns for the UK, and a general ambivalence, particularly among younger generations, towards military activities.
Consequently, national service has been highlighted as a potential mechanism to cultivate greater social engagement in shaping defense strategy and to bolster national identity, social cohesion, and a sense of societal ownership of national security. It has also been proposed as a critical approach to generate the necessary scale of personnel to effectively address threats both domestically and internationally. The current discourse around national service England must consider these multifaceted dimensions of societal resilience and national security.
International Models of National Service: Lessons for England
While numerous countries have, in recent decades, moved away from mandatory conscription in favor of fully volunteer, professional militaries, several nations have retained mandatory national service. Furthermore, some have recently reintroduced it as a strategic response to evolving national security threats. This diverse range of approaches underscores that while certain practices may be commendable and adaptable, the implementation of national service is heavily influenced by a nation’s specific security needs, cultural context, and historical background.
Singapore provides a compelling example of a military-focused national service model. Here, the military workforce is predominantly composed of conscripts and reservists. National service in Singapore is not only a means to generate military capability but also to cultivate a collective commitment to national defense. It is integral to Singapore’s concept of “Total Defence” – a whole-of-society approach to national security – which is deeply embedded in the nation’s identity. Promoting national service among young people through education and active engagement is a cornerstone of this approach, with schools playing a vital role in educating the public about the objectives and principles of national defense and preparedness.
Finland, similarly to Singapore, leverages mandatory military service to strengthen its armed forces. However, Finland uniquely incorporates an option for non-military service, designed to promote civic education and readiness in the context of national defense. Adding to this comprehensive approach, Finland invests significantly in National Defence Courses, providing collective training for critical industries and businesses. The Finnish model exemplifies strong civil-military relations and a robust reserve force.
Military training is a key component of national service in many countries, aiming to build defense capabilities and foster national unity.
In contrast, countries like Denmark, Norway, and Sweden have adopted a competitive model of national service. This approach, rather than being mandatory, requires young people to apply for placements within the armed forces. While volunteer professional forces constitute the majority, this model allows the armed forces to tap into young talent for specific roles and professions. It also strengthens reserve forces, as individuals completing national service automatically transition into the reserves. Effective utilization of incentives to encourage service uptake, coupled with a long-standing tradition of reserve recruitment, are crucial enablers for this approach. Nordic and Baltic nations are also frequently recognized for their comprehensive “total defense” models, characterized by consistent and proactive communication with their populations regarding the necessity for preparedness in the face of nearby military threats. These diverse international examples offer valuable comparative perspectives for the UK as it contemplates the future of national service England.
Complexities and Key Considerations for Implementing National Service England
For the United Kingdom to seriously consider options for reintroducing national service England, a thorough examination of international experiences is invaluable. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that national circumstances significantly shape the implementation, form, and ultimate value of national service. Many of the nations highlighted, unlike the UK, face the distinct reality of a proximate physical military threat. This arguably fosters a heightened level of cultural and societal acceptance of defense and a shared understanding of the imperative for national security, factors that may differ in the UK context.
Several other critical considerations emerge for the United Kingdom as it explores future pathways for national service. Firstly, the UK must not underestimate the logistical complexities inherent in mandatory national service. Engaging a large cohort of individuals in military or civilian service necessitates large-scale mobilization, comprehensive training, and intricate coordination. Establishing the necessary infrastructure and ecosystem for such a large-scale undertaking could pose a substantial challenge for the UK, particularly given existing challenges in mobilizing Armed Forces Reserves in national security emergencies.
Secondly, mandatory national service inevitably entails costs. The economic rationale of national military service remains a subject of debate. While some argue for its economic advantages in mitigating the high budgetary demands of a professional military, primarily through mandatory conscription, it has also been argued that such systems can undermine the economic efficiency of military organizations and present economic trade-offs. As the UK Armed Forces operate within an increasingly competitive labor market, striving to achieve more with fewer resources, these economic considerations will be paramount, regardless of whether mandatory military service is ultimately pursued by a UK government.
In the absence of a fully implemented national service England program, the United Kingdom should explore alternative avenues for strengthening societal connections with the armed forces, enhancing societal resilience, and promoting broader engagement in national security and defense. Research suggests strengthening partnerships between the armed forces and relevant non-governmental organizations, particularly in areas like public health and disaster response. This approach leverages these organizations’ existing networks across diverse demographics for national defense purposes and could streamline processes for activating and mobilizing these networks during national emergencies. Such initiatives should be coupled with improving public access to relevant education and training in areas such as disaster response and national preparedness. Finally, the United Kingdom should prioritize enhancing societal understanding of the national security ecosystem and the multifaceted roles of the military – including their crucial contributions to non-traditional security challenges like climate change – to foster greater civic engagement, particularly among younger generations. The future of national service England, therefore, hinges on a nuanced understanding of its potential benefits, inherent challenges, and viable alternative strategies for achieving national resilience and security in the 21st century.
Linda Slapakova, Rebecca Lucas, and Theodora Ogden, defense and security analysts at RAND Europe, contributed to the research informing this article.
