In a period when domestic economic constraints meet limited but often brutal conflicts abroad, and when the latest security trend ‘hybrid war’ replaces the last ‘counter-insurgency’, the possibility of national mobilization seems remote for western powers. The recourse to the totality of the nation’s strengths for war, whether of industry or people, resonates little with the public and experts alike. Even more pointedly, the Anglo-American tradition makes conscription difficult for most to fathom in times of peace.
With a shared political culture that disdains large standing armies, both British and American societies are even less inclined to be drafted into military service in all but the most serious emergencies.
