DID YOU KNOW? DTIC has over 3.5 million final reports on DoD funded research, development, test, and evaluation activities available to our registered users. Click
HERE to register or log in.
Accession Number:
ADA607766
Title:
Why Conscription Singapore? The Social and Geostrategic Considerations
Descriptive Note:
Master's thesis
Corporate Author:
NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA CENTER FOR CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS
Report Date:
2014-03-01
Pagination or Media Count:
103.0
Abstract:
Conscription is a centuries-old manpower procurement policy that continues to be used by many countries today however, in the last few decades, the trend is for developed countries to transition toward all-volunteer forces. Reasons to implement conscription include the presence of a clear military threat and authoritarian intentions, among others, but many nations have since reduced or abolished conscription as they shift toward stable, democratic late-modern prosperity. Singapore adopted conscription shortly after gaining independence in 1965, yet amid similar conditions in the past half-century and facing the same challenges to its model and ideal of conscription, has not made the transition to an all-volunteer force. This thesis analyzes the reasons for Singapore s continued use of conscription in a world where other developed countries have transitioned toward all-volunteer forces. This insight could provide alternative options for countries seeking to maintain conscription, as well as reframe the civil-military discourse about conscription. Also, Singapore stands out as an anomaly in the globally occurring transitions to all-volunteer forces, thus explaining the Singapore case would further an understanding of why countries end, or retain, conscription.
Distribution Statement:
APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE