The Resurgence of Conscription and Militarization in Europe

• European nations are increasingly reintroducing conscription or voluntary military service models, fueled by regional security concerns and shifts in global alliances.
• Massive increases in defense spending and the militarization of youth are being presented by governments as necessary to ensure sovereignty and meet NATO targets.
• Critics argue that these measures prioritize the interests of the military-industrial complex over human security and represent a troubling trend of social control.

Militarization Budgets and Strategy

• The EU’s 'ReArm' project aims to mobilize €800 billion by 2030, while NATO members target a 5% GDP defense spending rate by 2035.
• France has earmarked €436 billion for military programs through 2030; Germany launched a €100 billion modernization fund (Zeitenwende) following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Conscription Initiatives in Germany and France

• Germany: Since early 2026, 18-year-olds have been subject to mandatory military census forms to identify potential recruits. The government aims to increase active and reserve personnel to 460,000 by 2029, though initial voluntary uptake remains far below targets despite a €2,600 monthly salary.
• France: After abandoning the 'Universal National Service' program in 2026 due to cost and performance issues, the state has pivoted to a 10-month voluntary military service for those aged 18 to 25.

Social Opposition and Critique

• Thousands of students have protested across Germany, linking the move toward war with cuts to public services like education.
• Researcher Tomás Gisbert argues that conscription acts as a coercive tool to categorize individuals by aptitude and political compliance, effectively controlling the social body.
• The normalization of martial rhetoric by mainstream parties is seen as an ideological victory for far-right principles, spreading into institutions that once championed pacifism.

The Case of Spain

• Spain has not yet reintroduced compulsory military service, primarily due to historical resistance and mass conscientious objection in the 1990s.
• Despite this, Spain has aligned with the broader European trend, raising its military budget by 50% in one year to reach $40.2 billion, meeting the NATO target of 2% of GDP.