Study title

Since 1996, the Center for Military History and Social Sciences of the Bundeswehr (ZMSBw) has conducted a representative survey of the German population on defense and security policy issues on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Defense. In 2008, this study was continued. For this purpose, N = 2422 persons were interviewed on various issues from May 28, 2008until June 30, 2008. The present survey focused in particular on security policy opinion, attitudes toward the Federal Armed Forces, Federal Armed Forces missions abroad, tasks and equipment of the Federal Armed Forces, personal relationship to the Federal Armed Forces, attitudes toward compulsory military service, attitudes toward NATO and evaluation of transatlantic relations, trust in institutions, interest in security policy and media use.1. Security policy opinion: feeling of being threatened by: severe economic crisis in Germany, cutbacks in social benefits, job loss or inability to find a job, insufficient financial security in case of unemployment, old age or illness, ageing society, immigration of foreigners to Germany, political extremism or religious fundamentalism in Germany, worldwide spread of a dangerous disease or epidemic, terrorist attacks in Germany or outside of Germany, nuclear, chemical or biological weapons in the hands of terrorists, wars or military conflicts in the world, military attack on Germany, worldwide climate change due to global warming, major natural disasters, worldwide environmental destruction, nuclear bombs in the hands of states such as Iran or North Korea, the resurgent military power Russia; personal sense of security; assessment of the current security situation in the country; Germany´s role in the world: increase vs. decrease in the responsibility that Germany has to bear at the international level; preferred options for Germany to assume responsibility at the international level (stronger involvement in the United Nations, the EU and NATO, more intensive...