Implications of a Voluntary Army for the Austrian Labour Market

The end of the Cold War, the increasing importance of international operations, and the development of a co-ordinated European security and defence strategy have led many countries in Europe to reform their national system of military defence – Belgium in 1994, the Netherlands in the second half of the 1990s, France in 2000. A major element of reform was the end of conscription and the introduction of a volunteer army. Now Austria is similarly contemplating a reform of its military system as a result of the changing character and functions of military service and the new geo-strategic position of Austria as a result of the Czech Republic and Hungary joining NATO in the 1990s.