In times of increasing international tensions, a term keeps cropping up in political debates that many citizens hardly know how to categorize: the "State of tension". But what does it mean in concrete terms when this case is established in Germany? And how does the case of tension differ from the better-known case of defense, which is usually associated with an actual war? In order to be able to correctly assess the possible consequences, it is worth taking a sober look at the constitutional situation.
Security policy
Security policy is one of the fundamental tasks of modern states. It encompasses all political, military, diplomatic and economic measures aimed at ensuring the stability of a country and its alliances. In Europe, this topic has become much more important again in recent years. Wars in the immediate neighborhood, geopolitical tensions between major powers and new threats in the digital space have led to questions of defense, alliance policy and strategic cooperation being discussed more intensively than they have been for a long time. Security policy does not only concern the military and governments. It also affects society, the economy and democratic institutions - from energy supply and international trade relations to political education and public debate.
Fitness for war, conscription & refusal: what to do in an emergency
At a time of increasing geopolitical tensions, many people in Germany are wondering what could happen to them in the event of a reintroduction of compulsory military service or a military escalation. Even though general conscription has been suspended in Germany since 2011, the constitutionally guaranteed right to refuse military service with a weapon for reasons of conscience still applies. This article provides a factual overview of the legal basis, the possible target groups, the procedure and the points to be observed, without replacing legal advice in individual cases.