Full results of the
European Youth Poll on Military Interventions For more information please contact Jacob D端ringer Project Manager at the EYP International Office j.dueringer@eyp.org +49-30-28095146
•
2142
• From
Participants
41 European Countries • Aged
• Poll Conducted Between:
16-27
February 25th and March
10th 2013
Military Interventions: Many young Europeans are sceptical Executive Summary The recent intervention in Mali once more raises the question: Are military interventions suitable instruments for achieving peace? In the latest European Youth Poll by the European Youth Parliament, many of the young respondents express scepticism: While a narrow majority of 52% think the intervention in Mali was justified, 65% stated they do not think military interventions are suitable to achieve sustainable peace. 72% agree: Any military intervention should be authorised by the United Nations Security Council. The Poll, which was conducted online by the European Youth Parliament in co-operation with the Stiftung Mercator foundation and with the help of other youth organisations, was taken by 2142 people between 16 and 27 from 41 European countries. It was held between February 25th and March 10th, 2013. One of the most controversial questions asked in the Poll was whether their countries should take action against Iran, should that country continue to develop nuclear weapons. Only 41% agreed that military force should be considered, while 56% are against it. The respondents were also asked for their opinion on the European dimension of military policy: A large majority of 86% shares the opinion that European countries should make decisions regarding military interventions together. However, only 58% want their country to participate in the creation of a common European military. The European Youth Parliament (EYP) is a non-partisan and independent educational organization active since 1987. Today it is one of the largest European platforms for political debate, intercultural encounters, political educational work and the exchange of ideas among young people in Europe. The EYP consists of a network of 36 European associations in which thousands of young people are active in a voluntary capacity. The European Youth Polls are conducted four times a year. They are open to all young people in Europe. Most of the respondents are actively engaged in civil society organisations. In 2012, 15863 young people participated.
"The recent military intervention in Mali was justified." 100,0%
"I agree" (51,9%)
"I disagree" (30,4%)
90,0%
80,0%
70,0%
60,0%
50,0%
"I somewhat agree" 40,0%
30,0%
"I somewhat disagree" 20,0%
10,0%
"I strongly agree" "I strongly disagree"
0,0%
The recent military intervention in Mali brought the topic back on the agenda and led many to think about the justification of military interventions. In our Poll, 51,9% thought this particular intervention was justified. There are clear differences between the countries on this question: Respondents from France, the main force behind the military intervention, overwhelmingly spoke out in favour of the intervention, whereas those from Turkey, Serbia and Greece were less convinced.
"The recent military intervention in Mali was justified." 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
Answers: “I strongly agree” or “I somewhat agree” (only countries with more than 50 participants).
"Any Military intervention should be authorised by the United Nations Security Council." 100,00%
90,00%
"I agree" (72,0%)
"I disagree" (25,8%)
80,00%
70,00%
60,00%
"I somewhat agree"
50,00%
40,00%
30,00%
"I strongly agree" 20,00%
"I somewhat disagree"
10,00%
"I strongly disagree" 0,00%
In the past, military interventions were conducted both with and without the authorisation of the United Nations Security Council. There is a consensus among a great number of respondents from all countries, that military interventions should indeed be authorised by the Security Council.
"Any Military intervention should be authorised by the United Nations Security Council." 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
Answers: “I strongly agree” or “I somewhat agree” (only countries with more than 50 participants).
"Military interventions are not suitable instruments for achieving sustainable peace." 100,00%
90,00%
80,00%
"I agree" (64,7%)
"I disagree" (34,0%)
70,00%
60,00%
50,00%
"I somewhat agree"
40,00%
30,00%
"I somewhat disagree" 20,00%
"I strongly agree"
10,00%
"I strongly disagree" 0,00%
Can military interventions help achieve sustainable peace? Almost two thirds of all respondents have their doubts. There is a clear difference between the countries on this question, with respondents from Serbia doubting the effectiveness of military interventions by 87%, while respondents from the Czech Republic, Sweden and the Netherlands are split.
"Military interventions are not suitable instruments for achieving sustainable peace." 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
Answers: “I strongly agree” or “I somewhat agree” (only countries with more than 50 participants).
"In which cases do you consider military interventions by European States justified?" 100,00%
"Killings of civilians and/or serious violations of Human Rights" 90,00%
80,00%
70,00%
"A hostile regime acquires weapons of mass destruction" 60,00%
50,00%
40,00%
"A democratically elected government is threatened by rebel groups "
30,00%
20,00%
10,00%
0,00%
"Economic interests of European countries are at risk"
Military interventions have been justified with many different reasons. On this question, respondents could choose more than one answer or none at all. Clearly, situations where civilians are being killed and/or Human Rights being violated would convince most of the young respondents to justify a military intervention.
"European States should take (or continue) military action in..." 100,00%
90,00%
80,00%
70,00%
"Syria" 60,00%
"Mali" 50,00%
"Lybia" 40,00%
30,00%
20,00%
10,00%
0,00%
"Afghanistan"
Of the four countries we asked, the continuous military presence in Afghanistan is the least popular. While only 35% think it should continue, 54,3% think European States should take military action in the current conflict in Syria.
"If Iran continues to develop nuclear weapons, my country should act to stop it, if necessary with military force." 100,00%
90,00%
"I agree" (40,9%)
"I disagree" (55,6%)
80,00%
70,00%
60,00%
50,00%
"I somewhat disagree"
40,00%
30,00%
"I somewhat agree"
20,00%
10,00%
0,00%
"I strongly agree"
"I strongly disagree"
Apart from the four countries mentioned in the previous question, the possible development of nuclear weapons in Iran poses the question of whether military force should be used to stop it. A majority of 55,6% do not want their countries to do this.
"If Iran continues to develop nuclear weapons, my country should act to stop it, if necessary with military force." 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
Answers: “I strongly agree” or “I somewhat agree” (only countries with more than 50 participants).
"European countries should decide together on their participation in military interventions." 100,00%
"I agree" (85,7%)
"I disagree" (12,5%)
90,00%
80,00%
70,00%
"I somewhat agree"
60,00%
50,00%
40,00%
30,00%
20,00%
"I strongly agree" 10,00%
"I somewhat disagree" "I strongly disagree"
0,00%
In past military interventions, European countries did not always act together. While some, e.g. supported the war in Iraq which started ten years ago, many others did not. A very clear majority of 85,7% thinks European countries should decide together whether they participate in military interventions.
"European countries should decide together on their participation in military interventions." 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
Answers: “I strongly agree” or “I somewhat agree” (only countries with more than 50 participants).
"My country should participate in creating a common European military." 100,00%
90,00%
80,00%
"I agree" (58,2%)
"I disagree" (37,6%)
70,00%
60,00%
50,00%
"I somewhat agree" 40,00%
"I somewhat disagree"
30,00%
20,00%
"I strongly agree" "I strongly disagree"
10,00%
0,00%
When answering the previous question, a great majority supported common decisions on military interventions. The majority gets slimmer, however, when asked about the creation of a common European military. While Belgian, French and Italian respondents were very much in favour of their countries’ participation, young people from Sweden, Serbia and Turkey were not as enthusiastic.
"My country should participate in creating a common European military." 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
Answers: “I strongly agree” or “I somewhat agree” (only countries with more than 50 participants).
In which institutional framework should military interventions be carried out? 100,00%
90,00%
80,00%
70,00%
60,00%
"United Nations" 50,00%
"NATO"
"European Union"
40,00%
"Individual Nation States" 30,00%
20,00%
10,00%
0,00%
What is the right institutional framework to carry out military interventions? Respondents in our Poll named the United Nations most often, followed by NATO. While individual National States proved to be the least popular option, the European Union was not a popular option either.
Q9: "Regarding the current overall state of European integration, I think‌." 100,00%
90,00%
80,00%
70,00%
"More integration" "Less integration" "Integration as (19,5%, +5,0) (60,8%, -4,6) today" (14,3% -1,0)
60,00%
50,00%
40,00%
30,00%
20,00%
10,00%
0,00%
"...there should be more integration (more decisions on the European level)"
"...there should be less integration (more decisions on the national level)"
...integration should stay as it is today
One of the questions asked in every European Youth Poll is whether there should be more, less, or the same amount of European integration as today. Compared to the last Poll, there is less support for more European integration. There continues to be a big divide between the countries on this question: Respondents from Belgium, Italy, France and Germany are clearly in favour of more integration, whereas Czechs, Finns and British respondents are sceptical.
"Regarding the current overall state of European integration, I think there should be more integration." 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
Answer: “there should be more integration (more decisions on the European level)� (only countries with more than 50 participants).
"Generally, the EU should be enlarged through the accession of more countries." 100,00%
90,00%
80,00%
70,00%
"I agree" (52,9%, +2,8)
"I disagree" (43,1%, -1,9)
60,00%
50,00%
40,00%
"I somewhat agree"
"I somewhat disagree"
"I strongly agree"
"I strongly disagree"
30,00%
20,00%
10,00%
0,00%
The other question we always ask is whether the participants generally support the accession of more countries to the EU. Support for this has increased slightly since our last Poll in November 2012. There remains to be a strong support in countries who are not (yet) EU members, such as Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine, while particularly French respondents were very sceptical.
"Generally, the EU should be enlarged through the accession of more countries." 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
Answers: “I strongly agree” or “I somewhat agree” (only countries with more than 50 participants).