Only 16% of Italians would fight for their country, survey shows

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1. > Almost a third of Italians believe the country will be directly involved in a war within five years, but only 16% of those of fighting age would be willing to take up arms, a survey showed on Friday.

   > The survey by the Centre for Social Investment Studies (CENSIS) showed 39% of Italians aged between 18 and 45 would declare themselves as pacifist conscientious objectors, 19% would try to evade conscription another way, and 26% would prefer Italy to hire foreign mercenaries.

   > most Italians remain sceptical of rearmament. Just 26% believe that military deterrence is a good way to ensure peace, while only 25% support increased military budgets even if it means cutting welfare. A mere 11% would like the country to have nuclear weapons.

   > Despite a 46% rise in defence spending over the past decade, per capita expenditure in Italy remains comparatively low at 586 dollars, the survey said. That compares with 686 dollars in Greece and over 2,000 dollars in countries such as the United States or Norway.

   > To ensure Italy’s security, 49% of all Italians are in favour of strengthening NATO, while 58% would like to see an integrated European Union defence system, with a single army, under a unified command and joint weapons procurement.

   > Another poll published last month by the European Council on Foreign Relations showed that only 17% of Italians support increasing defence spending

2. Knowing Italian history, I would reckon that at least 80% of Italians would be ready to fight for their city, if they get into a war with the neighboring city. Or for their region if against a neighboring region, etc.

3. I think that in most Western countries, increasingly people view joining the military as fighting for the interests of a ruling class that hates them rather than defending their home.

4. You don’t say? Why would I fight for Italy?

   The impending wars have nothing to do with the safety of the country, they are basically international power struggles over resources.

   I have no intention in fighting for the people in power to benefit from it.

5. As a Greek with relatives who experienced Axis occupation, they all have the nicest things to say about the common Italian soldiers and the exact opposite for the German soldiers.

6. The most Italian thing ever is to shout “we are ready to die” from the national anthem and, after the “si” , turn to the guy next to them and comment “well, now, this ready to die thing….”

7. Reminds me of that bit in catch 22, where an American talks to an Italian about who the better soliders are, to paraphrase for brevity:

   American: “The US Fighting man is second to none!”

   Italian: “And the Italian fighting man is second to all. Thats why Italian soldiers are not dying anymore. But American and German officers are. I call this doing extremely well!”

8. Setting aside the fact that who would even invade us? Slovenia?

   Italian millennials and gen z have only known economic crisis and the erosion of the welfare state for all our adult lives. We have seen wars start over total BS like in Iraq. And we have experienced quite the cold shoulder from our European neighbors when we needed help. So are you really surprised that the military is a safety job for people with scarce prospects?

   Don’t get me wrong I love my country, but it’s not 1917 the Austrians are not on the Piave river. I don’t see any point why the common people should be even expected to be willing to take up weapons.

9. I’m Italian and a lot of my friends openly talk about civil war, revolution or brag that they’re prepared for war against fascism. We’re super-ready to fight against each other – in words, at least – but we don’t even consider the possibility of foreign invasion or strategic war or protecting our interests in general.

10. Its almost like you can’t be ruled by a transparently corrupt ruling class if they are too stupid and arrogant to keep it under wraps. Woops. Try something new now.

11. This question is meaningless without context. Who runs Italy in such a scenario? Who is the enemy? Who is the aggressor? A worthless question, so a worthless survey, and a worthless article it’s stupid of a supposedly serious media company to write.

12. >Almost a third of Italians believe the country will be directly involved in a war within five years, but only 16% of those of fighting age would be willing to take up arms, a survey showed on Friday.

    16% might be true for an offensive war. I am also sure people genuinely belive they would not have a change of heart if push comes to shove. The problem is that if it was a defensive war i have no doubt this number would become irrelevant.

    >39% of Italians aged between 18 and 45 would declare themselves as pacifist conscientious objectors, 19% would try to evade conscription another way, and 26% would prefer Italy to hire foreign mercenaries.

    It is easy to be a saint in paradise.

13. They need to get back to the age of city states. It is way too easy for national leaders to ignore the actual effects of their policies outside of the capital region, or to leech money from one area to another to win votes rather than improve things. At the city state level, the causality between action and outcome is clearer to everyone.

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