Policy Brief

Broken Arms

Demographic change and Europe’s security capacities

Key Messages: Demographic change is a shaper of both security risks and security capacities. Recruitment requirements will remain at a high level due to the complexity of international military missions and new technology, while population ageing will make it increasingly difficult to recruit enough qualified personnel. Policies focusing on the improvement of employment conditions and the expansion of the recruitable population seem to be most promising.

Download Population & Policy Compact 05/2013 (548.91 KB)

Key Messages:

Demographic change is a shaper of both security risks and security capacities.
Recruitment requirements will remain at a high level due to the complexity of international military missions and new technology, while population ageing will make it increasingly difficult to recruit enough qualified personnel.
Policies focusing on the improvement of employment conditions and the expansion of the recruitable population seem to be most promising.
An open exchange about best practices among European countries could help identify the most effective combination of policies.

References:

Apt, W. (forthcoming): Germany’s New Security Demographics: Military Recruitment in the Era of Population Aging. Demographic Research Monographs. Heidelberg: Springer.
Apt, W. (2010): The Socio-demographic Context of Military Recruitment in Europe: A Differentiated Challenge. In Szvircsev Tresch, T. and C. Leuprecht (eds.): Europe Without Soldiers? Recruitment and Retention across the Armed Forces in Europe. Montreal and Kingston: McGill-Queen’s University Press.
German Ministry of Defence (2011): Defence Policy Guidelines: Safeguarding National Interests – Assuming International Responsibility – Shaping Security Together. Berlin.
Kagan, F. W. (2006): The U.S. Military’s Manpower Crisis. Foreign Affairs 85 (4): 97-110.
Korb, L. J., Ogden, P. and F. W. Kagan, (2006): Jets or GIs? How Best to Address the Military’s Manpower Shortage. Foreign Affairs.
Lescreve, F. and B. Schreurs (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 Technical Report TR-HFM-107. Brussels: NATO & RTO.
Leuprecht, C. (2006): Die unvollendete Revolution: Postnationale Streitkräfte. In U. vom Hagen (ed.): Armee in der Demokratie: Zum Verhältnis von zivilen und militärischen Prinzipien. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag.
Mason, D. and C. Dandeker (2009): Evolving UK Policy on Diversity in the Armed Services: Multiculturalism and its Discontents. Commonwealth and Comparative Politics, 47(4): 393-419.
OECD (2011): Education at a Glance 2011. Paris: OECD
Weiner, M. and S. S. Russel (2001): Demography and National Security. New York/Oxford: Berghan Books.

Additional Information

Authors of Original Article

Apt

Source

Apt, W. (2013). Broken Arms. Demographic change and Europe’s security capacities. Population & Policy Compact 5, Berlin: Max Planck Society/Population Europe.

Related Content