Navigating the People's War and Conscription within Modern Military Strategy: Opportunities and Challenges in the Context of Bangladesh

This paper explores the evolving relevance of the concept of people’s war and the reconsideration of conscription in the context of 21st-century global and regional security challenges. It revisits China’s strategic military thinking, particularly its adaptation of Maoist warfare principles to modern technological realities, and examines how these strategies influence the broader discourse on national defense mobilization. The paper also compares volunteer and conscripted military systems, drawing on recent European experiences in response to the Russia–Ukraine conflict. Finally, it reflects on the implications of these strategies for Bangladesh, evaluating the potential and limitations of conscription as part of a broader security framework. Through a comparative and analytical lens, the study seeks to invoke informed dialogue on national preparedness in the face of emerging geostrategic threats.