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 2010, this study was continued. For this purpose, N = 1826 persons were interviewed on various issues from September 27, 2010 until October 29, 2010. The present survey focused in particular on security and threat perceptions, basic security policy attitudes, perceptions of Germany´s role in the world, perceptions and evaluations of the Federal Armed Forces, attitudes toward the Federal Armed Forces´ missions abroad, defense spending and the size of the armed forces, attitudes of German citizens toward compulsory military service, attitudes toward the ESDP and NATO, attitudes toward the discussions on downsizing the Federal Armed Forces, and German citizens´ interest in security policy and media usage.1. Security and threat perception: feeling of being threatened by: severe economic crisis in Germany, cutbacks in social benefits, loss of or no 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 in other countries. outside 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, personal threat of crime; personal sense of security; assessment of the current security situation in the country; 2. Germany´s role in the world: preference for a rather active vs. rather passive international policy of Germany; reasons why Germany should help to...