BRITISH SOCIAL ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE MILITARY AND CONTEMPORARY CONFLICT Are the Armed Forces understood and supported by the public?

BRITISH SOCIAL ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE MILITARY

AND CONTEMPORARY CONFLICT

Are the Armed Forces understood and supported by the public?

British Social Attitudes Survey

2011 BSA Survey

3,311 responded Response rate = 54%

Data collection June to Sept 2011

bsa-29.natcen.ac.uk

Public opinion of Iraq and Afghanistan

Success of the missions

27% 30%

Perceived purposes of Iraq

Ensure Western oil supplies

26%

Make Iraq a stable country9%

Protect UK from ter-rorism supported by

Saddam15%

Make ME more stable

8%

Prevent Iraq acquiring

WoMD 18%

Help US & NATO al-lies12%

Other11%

Perceived purposes of Afghanistan

Protect the UK from terrorism

30%

Make Afghanistan a stable country

28%

Make Afghanistan a successful democ-

racy9%

Gain access to oil & mineral resources

13%

Help US & NATO al-lies13%

Other6%

British troops out now?

Options for withdrawal from Afghanistan %

As soon as possible, without conditions 35

As soon as the Afghan government can protect its territory AND prevent it from being used as a base for terrorism

34

As soon as the government in Afghanistan can protect its territory

19

As soon as Afghanistan has become a successful democracy/ AND has a successful economy

5

At a fixed future date, without conditions 4

Public opinion of the Armed Forces

Role of the media

Heroes or victims?

0

20

40

60

80

100

77

59

46

15

5851

57

24

Current personnel

Former members

Per

cen

t %

AF

/ES

mo

re l

ikely

Veteran charities

Almost 2/3 knew of veteran charity or organisation

Two largest charities were the most well-known Royal British Legion & poppy charities Help for Heroes

More than 75% had bought a Poppy

Government support for veterans

physical illness/injury

mental illness/injury

0

20

40

60

80

100

29 31

7175

currently receive better health & welfare provision

should get prior-ity health & wel-fare provision

Per

cen

t %

Yes

Who is a veteran?

Definitions %

Left Service to retire 37

Deployed on operations (not necessarily overseas) 21

Deployed overseas in a combat mission 18

Unsure 9

Left Service after four years 9

Completed basic training 3

Deployed overseas 3

Completed a minimum of one day’s service 2

The UK civil-military gap

Public support mission

Military support returning personnel

Reported hostility

0

20

40

60

80

100

33 31

2

45

69

20

Public

Armed Forces

Per

cen

t %

Yes

Future role of the UK Armed Forces

%

Defending the UK against threats from other states 28

Assisting police & security forces in anti-terror operations in the UK (incl. crime, terrorism and cyber security)

24

Supporting NATO allies, taking part in UN missions 17

Humanitarian aid & disaster relief (overseas or UK) 14

Missions against terrorists abroad 9

Protecting citizens of overseas countries who are engaged in protest or dissent from attacks by their government/rulers/ removing dictators

8

Ceremonial and public duties 1

Summary

Public support UK Armed Forces but not missions

Public believe military service to have an impact on mental health outcomes

Public support priority government health & welfare services for veterans

Differences between public and military opinions may have implications for civil-military relations

Reluctance of public to support UK military action may be legacy of the Iraq and Afghanistan missions

Further information

Website: www.kcl.ac.uk/kcmhr

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @kcmhr