- July 23, 2026
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- July 23, 2026
Germany’s security landscape is shifting. As debates over European defense autonomy intensify and NATO allies reassess their military readiness, the question of mandatory military service has moved from the margins to the center of German political discourse. On July 23, 2026, Aspen Institute Germany and the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM) will host an Oxford-style debate at the German Bundestag on the motion: “Should Germany introduce compulsory military service?” The debate will bring together scholars of the International Parliamentary Fellowship (IPS), young international professionals embedded in the German Bundestag, who will argue opposing positions before a live audience. The format is designed to make the force of argument visible: audience members will vote on the motion before and after the debate via QR code, allowing shifts in opinion to be tracked in real time. Two teams of four will present opening statements, engage in cross-examination, respond to audience questions, and deliver rebuttals. A jury will evaluate the quality of argumentation. The event will be moderated by Stormy-Annika Mildner, Executive Director of Aspen Institute Germany. The debate will address core questions at the intersection of security policy, democratic participation, and social cohesion: What does a credible defense posture require of German society? Who bears responsibility for national security? And how do international perspectives challenge domestic assumptions?
