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STREIT & ZUVERSICHT #16 Wehrpflicht
DISPUTE & CONFIDENCE #16 Conscription
Event by: Holtzbrinck Berlin - Inspire Together
Location: Heimathafen Neukölln, Karl-Marx-Straße 141, Berlin - Bezirk Neukölln
Tickets: 9–12 EUR · Get tickets
About event
Between war and freedom: Can one Conscription be fair? – Let’s debate
Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) demands that Germany must become “war-ready” in view of the changed security situation. In the new military service law, the Bundestag has decided that from January 1, 2026, young men born in 2008 will be required to be drafted. Whether a “required military service” will follow in 2027 depends on developments in the defense policy situation and the number of personnel in the Bundeswehr. Meanwhile, the debate over conscription is dividing the country. Parallel to the decisions in the Bundestag, young people took to the streets and went on strike against the government's plans.
The questions about a possible reintroduction of compulsory military service are complex: Who will take responsibility for the defense of Germany? Does the pretext of military readiness justify the interference with the basic rights of young people - especially young men? Is there a need for gender equality in compulsory military service so that it can be considered fair? Should there be freedom of choice between a year of community service and compulsory military service? In short: Can the reintroduction of compulsory military service in Germany be fair for young people?
STREIT & CONFIDENCE, the debate format by ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS and Holtzbrinck Berlinin cooperation withHeimathafen Neukölln, invites you to discuss these future-oriented questions. Experts from politics, the Bundeswehr, civil society and science await you on stage, bringing different perspectives to the conscription debate.
CONFLICT & CONFIDENCE is the place for everyone who is curious, has a desire for real arguments and is ready to question their own view. The series of events aims to create understanding, especially for positions that are not your own.
Come along, bring your arguments and questions into the discussion and vote: Can compulsory military service be fair?