New Report Reveals Significant Disconnect Between the Youth and the Defense Sector

In a context marked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Middle East conflict and rising geopolitical tensions, young people in France, Germany, Spain and the UK show signs of concern about the security threats that Europe faces, yet would not volunteer in case of armed conflict:

• More than 70% of young respondents see terrorism as the biggest threat to European security, followed by concerns about cyberattacks, natural disasters due to climate change, and Russia.

Q: Of the following possible risks or threats to European security, to what extent would you say that each of them is a real threat at the moment? Give your answer on a scale from 0 to 10 where 0 means "does not pose a threat" and 10 means "poses a very serious threat".

• However, if their country or another European nation were to come under military attack, only about a third of them would volunteer to help defend it.

Overall, young Europeans demonstrate a superficial knowledge about the mechanisms, the actors, and the activities of the defense sector: 

• Respondents have little or no knowledge of the main players in the European defense industry: A striking 90% of young Europeans are unable to name a single private defense company.
• The majority of them associate the defense industry to “military technology, vehicles, and electronics” but less than 20% of respondents link it to “research and development” or “telecommunications and networking”.

Q: In which business sectors do you think companies in the defense industry are involved in? (multiple answer question)

• At least 20% of young people in Western Europe do not think companies in the defense sector are committed to peace and conflict resolution, protecting democracy or the fight against climate change. 

Q: To what extent do you think companies in the defense sector are committed to the following objectives?

This widespread unfamiliarity highlights a significant disconnect between the defense sector and younger generations.

Such low levels of awareness may reflect broader disengagement and a lack of understanding about the diverse activities within the defense sector, emphasizing the need to educate younger generations on the sector’s role within the current complex geopolitical climate.

“Despite the war in Ukraine and other escalating conflicts, European Defense is still a divisive topic in the public discourse, mostly held with rather limited knowledge, as this report confirms. Governments, academia and us, the defense industry, clearly need to do a better job in fostering a more transparent and substantiated public debate on the role of Defense in protecting the European people, society, values and freedom”, says Jo Mueller, Head of Sustainability and Communications at Airbus Defence and Space.

“In a world shaped by geopolitical tensions fueled by the technological race, climate-energy vulnerabilities, emergencies and disasters, it is key to possess well-informed knowledge of the risks, threats, and challenges to our security. In this report, we analyze the stance of young adults. Their perception and vision are often limited by the absence of solid foundations. It is crucial that governments, businesses, and academia engage to promote a broad culture of security and defense”, added Irene Blázquez, Director of the Center for the Governance of Change at IE University.

The report is part of Next Generation Security, a research and impact program that aims to bridge the gap between young people and the defense sector. The program includes educational initiatives, outreach efforts, and a research project designed to raise awareness on the role of defense in security, sustainability, and the protection of our liberal democracies.

Click here to read the full report