Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/325061 
Year of Publication: 
2025
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 18003
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
We study the long-term impact of compulsory military service, a powerful nation building tool, on attitudes toward immigrants. Using a regression discontinuity design, we compare cohorts of men required to serve with those exempted due to suspension of compulsory service in 21 European countries. We find that conscripts exhibit more negative attitudes towards immigrants, whereas this is not true for women in the same birth cohorts. The impact is more pronounced in countries with high levels of immigration, and when the military service was done during a left-wing government, and hence provided a stronger change in narrative during a crucial formative period.
Subjects: 
identity
conscription
nation building
immigration
discrimination
JEL: 
I28
Z13
F22
D71
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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