As whispers of war echo through the corridors of power, the specter of conscription looms over the UK, stirring memories of a controversial past.
History suggests that those who refuse to fight on moral grounds may face legal processes (Image: PA)
As global tensions rise and fears of a wider conflict grow, questions are emerging about what conscription could look like in the UK if war were to break out. History suggests that those who refuse to fight on moral grounds may face not only legal processes, but also public judgement. This breakdown of the legal and cultural reactions to refusal by individuals to take part in the wartime defence of the nation offers a glimpse of how social pressure plays a powerful role.
Women once took to the streets of Britain during World War One armed with white feathers, using them to publicly shame men who were not in military uniform, reports Yahoo News. The gesture was aimed at men who refused to fight for the UK during the 1914–1918 conflict against Germany, many of whom had objected on moral grounds. Those men were known as conscientious objectors , and they became the target of what was later called the White Feather Campaign.
Women involved in the movement would present a white feather to men not in uniform as a symbol of cowardice, branding them as unwilling to defend their country.
Rising global tensions revive conscription fears
With international tensions escalating, concerns are growing that the world may be edging closer to another major conflict, bringing with it renewed debate over mandatory military service.
Just days into 2026, the US has entered Venezuela and sparked urgent security discussions over threats to use military force to seize Greenland, a sovereign territory of Denmark.
While the idea of a third world war remains deeply unsettling, Russia’s continued offensive in Ukraine, combined with escalating US tensions with Iran over the Israel-Palestine conflict and nuclear threats, has made the prospect feel more tangible than in years past.
British ministers have warned that the UK must be ready for “war in our homeland”, urging greater preparation not only for armed conflict but also for national emergencies including pandemics, extreme weather, cyber attacks and infrastructure failures.
Although the exact form modern-day conscription might take remains unclear, Britain does have historical examples from World War Two.
How conscientious objectors were treated in WW2
During the last global conflict, conscientious objectors were required to attend tribunals to formally present their case for refusing military service.
Those whose objections were accepted were granted exemptions and assigned alternative roles that supported the war effort without combat.
The Parliament website states: “Conscientious objectors had to appear before a tribunal to argue their reasons for refusing to join-up. If their cases were not dismissed, they were granted one of several categories of exemption, and were given non-combatant jobs.”
European courts have since formally recognised the rights of conscientious objectors.
How conscription works across Europe today
A UK government report published in March 2025 examined how conscription operates across Europe in the present day.
It states: “Most countries obligate men to serve, offering opportunities for women to volunteer if they wish. Many also offer an alternative civilian option for conscientious objectors. Some use a lottery model, meaning that only a small proportion of eligible men are required to serve.”
The report adds: “The European Parliament’s research service briefing on mandatory military service says all EU Member States with an active conscription system have recognised the rights of conscientious objectors through national law.”
In Finland, military service is mandatory for men, but conscientious objectors may instead complete non-military service.
Greece operates a similar model, with minimum service terms defined as: “Less than 12 months military or 15 months civilian service for conscientious objectors.”
White feather stigma still lingers
While exemptions may still exist in the event of a future global conflict, social stigma may remain for those who refuse to fight.
The Peace Museum at the University of St Andrews explains: “The women of the ‘White Feather Campaign’ were militant in more ways than one: with passive aggression, they tried to shame men into signing up and fighting in the war, believing that military involvement was necessary and right.
“The symbol they used took some well-known peace imagery – the classic white dove – and twisted it to fit their public campaign. It is important to remember that, in their militarism, many of these women felt that they were ultimately working towards global peace: joining the ‘war effort’ was the best way, in their view, to bring the First World War to an end. Their views stood in stark contrast to the moral pacifism of conscientious objectors, who argued against violence as a means of solving conflict.”
