CONSCRIPTION, CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION, AND CIVIC SERVICE - THE MILITARY INSTITUTIONS AND POLITICAL-CULTURE OF GERMANY, 1945 TO THE PRESENT

The end of the East-West conflict and the unification of Germany came as a sudden challenge to the political self-understanding of the Germa ns. Among those institutions which have to be fundamentally reshaped a re the armed forces. The possible end of conscription will, however, n ot only influence the military institutions but also the political cul ture of Germany. The international situation demands more active polit ical and military involvement of Germany, e.g. in the framework of the United Nations. However, public support for the military as an instit ution and as an instrument of political action is decreasing. This con tradiction will become a feature of Germany's policy in the future.