ABSTRACT
Conscription and the citizens’ high willingness to defend the country have always been valued as the cornerstones of Finnish defence. In turn, Finland’s strategic communication has emphasised the importance of citizens’ commitment to national defence by bolstering the credibility of Finnish resilience. After Russia attacked Ukraine in 2022, the Finns’ willingness to defend their country strengthened significantly and citizens became more engaged in their national defence activities. This chapter discusses the strategic importance of “willingness to defend” in the context of a changed security environment and the Finnish conscription system. It considers why, in Finland, citizens’ attitudes towards security and defence policy, as well as their engagement in national defence duties, are a strategic matter for NATO as well.
