Patriots and national defense. Love without duty?

The many faces of patriotism

A patriot loves their country, marks national holidays, votes and… goes to war for the homeland? Not necessarily. Love of country doesn’t always translate into readiness to defend it. That’s the clear message of new research in European Security. Ralph Sundberg (Swedish Defence University) and Gina Gustavsson (Uppsala University) studied more than 4,000 citizens in Sweden and Denmark and uncovered surprising patterns.

“Previous studies typically focused on national pride as the sole factor, but our analysis shows national identity is multidimensional. Different aspects can pull people in different directions when it comes to defense willingness,” Sundberg explains.

Patriots and national defense: who actually wants to fight?

The study reveals a paradox of modern patriotism. Factors such as national attachment, cultural pride, and nationalist chauvinism — the belief that one’s own country is superior — correlate positively with readiness to defend. But “uncritical patriotism” works in the opposite direction. How do the authors define that last category?

“Our findings show that people with an attitude of ‘my country, right or wrong’ actually display lower defense willingness than others. This challenges the traditional view that strong nationalism always bolsters the will to defend the country,” Sundberg told Phys.org.

Why Sweden stands out

Sweden offers a fascinating case. Unlike neighboring Finland, Norway, or Denmark, it hasn’t experienced war or occupation in modern times. Even so, defense willingness there is higher than in many other European countries.

“That makes Sweden a unique case. Our study shows that historical experience of war isn’t necessary for strong defense willingness. Instead, pride in a country’s democracy, culture and history can play a decisive role,” the researcher notes.

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A new lens on civic engagement

The results matter for defense policymakers. Willingness to defend stems not only from loyalty to the state or its symbols, but from a blend of emotional attachment, cultural pride and a sense of community.

“If we want to understand defense willingness, we must grasp the feelings and values people link to their nation. It’s not just about military capabilities or threats, but how people perceive their community and identity,” Sundberg concludes.

Amid recent incidents involving Russian drones violating Polish airspace, many Poles may have quietly asked themselves: am I ready to fight for Poland? As the research suggests, not every patriot is eager to take up arms — a reminder that the link between patriots and national defense is anything but simple.

Read the original article: Niepokojące badanie. Kochają swój kraj, ale nie będą go bronić