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: kcmhr@kcl.ac.uk

Twitter: @kcmhr