In the world, calls from governments and political leaders about the need to be ready to defend one’s state are being heard more and more often. Military mobilization, strengthening of borders, expansion of armies – these topics have become familiar in the public discourse of many countries. The authorities emphasize the importance of national unity and the readiness of every citizen to take up arms if the situation requires it. But do these appeals correspond to the real mood of society? Are people really ready to defend their country when the critical moment comes?
The answer to this question is partially given by the global poll, conducted by the Gallup International Association in 45 countries. During October-December 2023, 46,138 people were interviewed. The results were made public at the end of 2024, noting the research error within 3-5%.
The study showed an interesting trend: compared to 2014, when the Russian Federation annexed Crimea, people’s willingness to defend their country decreased. In 2014, 61% of respondents in the world said they were ready to take up arms. In 2023, this indicator decreased to 52%. At the same time, the number of those who refused the idea of defending the state increased from 27% to 33%.
Among the countries where citizens expressed the highest readiness for defense, the leaders became:
Armenia – 96% Saudi Arabia – 94% Azerbaijan – 88% Pakistan – 86% Georgia – 83%.
Instead, the five countries with the lowest readiness for protection were:
Italy – 78% said “No” Austria – 62% Germany – 57% Nigeria – 54% Spain – 53%.
European countries showed an interesting result. Finland showed the highest percentage of readiness for defense — 74% of citizens are ready to take up arms in the event of an attack.
As for Ukraine, the survey revealed that 62% of citizens declared their readiness to defend the state. 33% said “No”, and another 4% refused to answer or were undecided.
This indicator is higher than in many other European countries. For example, in Poland 45% of respondents are ready for protection, while in Great Britain only 33% answered in the affirmative. In the USA, this figure is 41%.
In the Russian Federation, the results of the survey were as follows: 32% declared readiness for defense, 20% – against, and almost half of the respondents (48%) refused to answer or said they did not know. This high level of uncertainty may indicate fear of reprisals or insecurity in one’s own position.
These data allow us to understand that despite the appeals of the authorities, attitudes among the population are very different. In countries where the threat of external attack is historically felt, people show a higher readiness for defense. Where war is only an abstract concept, citizens’ readiness is much lower. These sentiments should be taken into account by politicians when they form national security strategies, since the population’s readiness for defense is not only a matter of patriotism, but also of trust in the state and its ability to protect its own citizens.
Thus, the question “are we ready to defend our country?” is not only a personal choice, but also part of a wider social discussion about security, rights, responsibilities and faith in the future of one’s country.
