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Affiliation(s)

Swiss Military Academy at the ETH Zurich, Switzerland

ABSTRACT

After the Cold War, all European armed forces have transformed to be prepared for the new geopolitical environment and have taken new tasks. Since then, the European armed forces are more active in international conflict management. Whereas most of the European states have suspended the conscription, the Swiss Armed Forces still hold on conscription. However, the Swiss Armed Forces have changed also. The reform “Armee 95” in 1995 and the reform “Armee XXI” in 2004 have transformed the Swiss Armed Forces and extended their range of tasks. Which of these tasks are legitimated by the Swiss population? To answer this question, the Swiss population had been interviewed about the tasks of the Swiss Armed Forces as part of the study “Sicherheit 2016”. The tasks which the Swiss population mentioned are displayed in this paper with regard to the transformation process classified and discussed. The evaluation shows that 93% of the interviewees have named one of Switzerland’s constitutional duties (defense, support of the civilian authorities, and promotion of peace within an international context) as the most important task of the Swiss Armed Forces. Mainly the national defense order and the subsidiary support of the civilian authorities are approved by the Swiss population.

KEYWORDS

Swiss Armed Forces, transformation of European armed forces, conscription, militia, study “Sicherheit 2016”

Cite this paper

Sociology Study, February 2017, Vol. 7, No. 2, 65-76

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