Abstract
This chapter provides a summary of findings that, in its entirety, illustrates the scope, relevance and urgency of the military recruitment challenge in Germany. It also provides solution approaches referring to the experiences of allied partners. As a general conclusion, there is insecurity about future military manpower demand and supply. Demographic change may exacerbate security risks in developing countries and reduce the security capacity of Western states. Changes in the international military environment will influence future missions and the organization of the military. Some demographic variables that may influence the number and character of missions include population growth, natural resource scarcity, high proportions of youth, high sex ratios, rapid urbanization, and demographic aging. In less developed countries, demographic change usually works as the last straw in regions already strained by territorial, ideological, or environmental conflict and economic hardship. In more developed countries, demographic aging may negatively affect various basic conditions of military interventions abroad, including domestic politics, the government budget, and military recruitment. To maintain sufficient force levels in the future, the Bundeswehr should focus more on unexploited recruitment potentials.
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Bulmahn, T., Fiebig, R., Hennig, J., & Wieninger, V. (2010). Ergebnisse der Jugendstudie 2008 (p. 156). Strausberg: Sozialwissenschaftliches Institut der Bundeswehr.
Dandeker, C., & Mason, D. (2010). Echoes of empire: Addressing gaps in recruitment and retention in the British army by diversifying recruitment pools. In T. Szvircsev Tresch & C. Leuprecht (Eds.), Europe without soldiers? Recruitment and retention across the armed forces of Europe (Queen’s policy studies series, pp. 209–231). Montreal/Kingston: McGill-Queen’s University Press.
Frieyro de Lara, B. (2010). The professionalization process of the Spanish armed forces. In T. Szvircsev Tresch & C. Leuprecht (Eds.), Europe without soldiers? Recruitment and retention across the armed forces of Europe (Queen’s policy studies series, pp. 181–193). Montreal/Kingston: McGill-Queen’s University Press.
Frisch, T. (2011). Attraktivitätsmaßnahmen für Freiwilligenstreitkräfte in europäischen Staaten: Sachstand (p. 15). Berlin: Deutscher Bundestag, Wissenschaftliche Dienste.
German Bundestag (2011). Frauen in der Bundeswehr (pp. 52), Drucksache 17/5664.
Hartley, K. (2006). The British experience with an all-volunteer force. In C. Gilroy & C. Williams (Eds.), Service to country: Personnel policy and the transformation of western militaries (pp. 287–312). Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.
Johansen, D. (2007). Chapter 2G – recruiting and retention of military personnel: United Kingdom. Recruiting and Retention of Military Personnel, Final Report of Research Task Group HFM-107, RTO (Tech. Rep. TR-HFM-107, pp. 2G-1/2G-6). Brussels: North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) & Research Technology Organisation (RTO).
Korb, L. J., & Duggan, S. E. (2007). An all-volunteer army? Recruitment and its problems. Political Science & Politics, 40(3), 467–471.
Lescreve, F., & Schreurs, B. (2007). Chapter 2A – Recruiting and retention of military personnel: Belgium. Recruiting and retention of military personnel, Final Report of Research Task Group HFM-107, RTO (Tech. Rep. TR-HFM-107, pp. 2A-1/2A-9). Brussels: North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) & Research Technology Organisation (RTO).
Leuprecht, C. (2006). Die unvollendete revolution: Post-nationale Streitkräfte. In U. vom Hagen (Ed.), Armee in der Demokratie: Zum Verhältnis von zivilen und militärischen Prinzipien (pp. 31–49). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag.
Leuprecht, C. (2010). Socially representative armed forces: A demographic imperative. In T. Szvircsev Tresch & C. Leuprecht (Eds.), Europe without soldiers? Recruitment and retention across the armed forces of Europe (Queen’s policy studies series, pp. 35–54). Montreal/Kingston: McGill-Queen’s University Press.
Mason, D., & Dandeker, C. (2009). Evolving UK policy on diversity in the armed services: Multiculturalism and its discontents. Commonwealth and Comparative Politics, 47(4), 393–410.
Moelker, R., Olsthoorn, P., Bos-Bakx, M., & Soeters, J. (2005). From conscription to expeditionary armed forces: Trends in the professionalisation of the Royal Netherlands armed forces (p. 60). Breda: Royal Netherlands Military Academy, Faculty of Military Sciences.
Moniz, D. (2005, February 20). Military offering more, and bigger, bonuses.. USA Today.
NATO. (2007). Recruiting and retention of military personnel. In North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Ed.), Final report of research task group (p. 516). Brussels: Research and Technology Organisation (RTO) of NATO.
Puente, J., & Blanco, S. (2007). Chapter 2E – Recruiting and retention of military personnel: Spain. Recruiting and retention of military personnel, Final Report of Research Task Group HFM-107, RTO (Tech. Rep. TR-HFM-107, pp. 2E-1/2E-13). Brussels: North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) & Research Technology Organisation (RTO).
Richardson, R. (2010). Recruitment and retention of ethnic cultural minorities in the Dutch armed forces. In T. Szvircsev Tresch & C. Leuprecht (Eds.), Europe without soldiers? Recruitment and retention across the armed forces of Europe (Queen’s policy studies series, pp. 21–34). Montreal/Kingston: McGill-Queen’s University Press.
Schjølset, A. (2010). NATO and the women: Exploring the gender gap in the armed forces. PRIO Paper (pp. 56). Oslo.
Syed, F., & Morrow, R. (2007). Recruiting and retention of military personnel: Canada. Recruiting and retention of military personnel, Final Report of Research Task Group HFM-107, RTO (Tech. Rep. TR-HFM-107, pp. 2B-1/2B-14). Brussels: North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) & Research Technology Organisation (RTO).
Szvircsev Tresch, T. (2010). Recruitment of military professionals by European all-volunteer forces as exemplified by Belgium, the Netherlands, and Slovenia. In T. Szvircsev Tresch & C. Leuprecht (Eds.), Europe without soldiers? Recruitment and retention across the armed forces of Europe (Queen’s policy studies series, pp. 145–164). Montreal/Kingston: McGill-Queen’s University Press.
van de Ven, C., & Bergman, R. (2007). Chapter 2D – Recruiting and retention of military personnel: The Netherlands. Recruiting and retention of military personnel, Final Report of Research Task Group HFM-107, RTO (Tech Rep. TR-HFM-107, pp. 2D-1/2D-13). Brussels: North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) & Research Technology Organisation (RTO).
van der Meulen, J., & Soeters, J. (2007). Introduction. In J. Soeters & J. v. d. Meulen (Eds.), Cultural diversity in the armed forces. An international comparison (pp. 1–14). Oxon: Routledge.
Ware, V. (2010). Whiteness in the glare of war: Soldiers, migrants and citizenship. Ethnicities, 10(3), 313–330.
Weiner, M., & Russell, S. S. (2001). Demography and national security. New York/Oxford: Berghahn Books.
Williams, C., & Seibert, B. (2011). Von der Wehrpflichtigen- zur Freiwilligenarmee. Erkenntnisse aus verbündeten Staaten (p. 28). Cambridge, MA: Weatherhead Center for International Affairs.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Apt, W. (2014). Demographic Change as a Strategic Constraint: Issues and Options. In: Germany's New Security Demographics. Demographic Research Monographs. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6964-9_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6964-9_7
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-007-6963-2
Online ISBN: 978-94-007-6964-9
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and LawSocial Sciences (R0)