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Introduction

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Germany's New Security Demographics

Part of the book series: Demographic Research Monographs ((DEMOGRAPHIC))

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Abstract

The present book addresses the implications of demographic change for international security and provides a detailed analysis of the impact of demographic issues on military recruitment in Germany. Research is guided by the central question of whether demographic change, and the ensuing military manpower recruitment challenges, will constrain Germany’s ability to take up its envisaged role in world affairs. To answer this question, the demand and supply side of military manpower are put under scrutiny. The international security environment and the resultant requirements for Western military organizations and their soldiers form the demand side of military manpower. Meanwhile, a broad range of trends in the social environment of the Bundeswehr suggests that recruiting enough people of the right quality will remain a continuing challenge. These socio-demographic factors represent the supply side of military manpower and form the structural framework for the subsequent analysis. Following this approach, the book gives prominence to a topic that has thus far been under-represented in the greater discussion of demographic change, though is no less important than the implications for domestic policy: the demographic impact on international affairs.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Despite the availability of the 12th coordinated population projection, the estimates of the preceding 11th coordinated population projection are displayed here. This is to illustrate the demographic effect of the sharp fall in the birth rate in East Germany during reunification, i.e. between 1988 and 1992. With a base year of 2010, as in the 12th coordinated population projection, the actual reduction would have been concealed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH, Berlin, Germany

    Wenke Apt

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  1. Wenke Apt
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Apt, W. (2014). Introduction. In: Germany's New Security Demographics. Demographic Research Monographs. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6964-9_1

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