Civilian service vs military service

In a difficult moment like the one we are living, characterised by a strong economic crisis, even the funds dedicated to a noble institution such as civilian service will be drastically cut. Throughout the years, this has led to a dramatic reduction of both projects and voluntary people involved in this experience. Civilian service stems from conscientious objection and has become an alternative to compulsory military service (in the name of “non-violent and non-armed defence of the mother country”).

The delicate situation of civilian service is clearly portrayed by XIII CNESC Report, according to which, despite the increase in the number of presented projects and the growth of people interested in participating in such an initiative, in 2009 only 27.6% of projects were approved (in 2005 they were 94.6%). However, this reduction seems to be much more bizarre if we compare it with the progressive increase in military expenditure registered in Italy.

Compared with 2008, indeed, in 2009 military expenditure increased by 6% and placed our country in tenth position in the world list for military expenditure (SIPRI). Moreover, Italy is one of the countries with the highest expenses for military staff, and it must be noticed that in 2010 Italian Ministry of Defence launched a project that seems to be the exact and contrary copy of civilian service. Although it lasts much less than civilian service (around 2/3 weeks), it aims at providing the basic knowledge on the constitutional duty to defend the home country, even with different means compared with the non-violence model.

Thus, constitutional duty feeds two alternative (or antithetical) training models for youths (military and civilian service) based on different values. On this purpose, politics should identify a sort of synthesis by evaluating the appropriate defence needs of our country (regardless of the pressures exerted by military lobbies) and considering the needs to build a mature civil society able to pay attention to the values of peace and rights protection, starting from young generation.

It would be suitable to grant adequate resources for both training paths, letting youths choose what they prefer. Nowadays, this still remains impossible and, with an anachronistic choice, National Civilian Service has been penalised the most. Its funds have been dramatically reduced and its reform, which may make it more efficient, has been postponed. Unfortunately, this is only the nth issue paying attention to the necessary training needs that our country should privilege for investing on youths. It is an impossible issue to deal with without a political overview on the future of our country.