The Civic-Minded Citizen and the Role of Conscription: Evidence from Sweden

Abstract Motivated by the revival of conscription and the enduring belief that it is a highly influential institution in fostering civic virtues and engagement, this paper estimates the causal effects of peacetime selective conscription on civic engagement. Using a quasi-experimental design and third-party-reported Swedish administrative data, the study examines three behavioral indicators of civic engagement: blood donation, voter turnout, and payments to the public broadcasting service. While descriptive results show strong positive associations between military service and all outcomes, the causal estimates are small and statistically insignificant. The results challenge the notion that conscription inherently and substantially fosters civic-mindedness. Thus, alternative policies may be more effective in promoting civic engagement. While the results are primarily generalizable to Western, non-Latin countries, the paper also discusses key aspects of institutional design that may influence whether and how conscription promotes civic engagement.