Europe Fears New Wars Poll Reveals

Europe Fears New Wars Poll Reveals

Fears of wider conflict remain elevated in Germany more than three years after the start of the war in Ukraine, according to recent survey results from the non-profit Center for Monitoring, Analysis and Strategy (Cemas)

The data indicates that nearly half of respondents – 41 percent – express concern about the potential for a Third World War An even larger proportion, 52 percent, believe further conflicts within Europe are likely Researchers also found a correlation between heightened anxieties surrounding military escalation and increased susceptibility to disinformation; the greater the fear, the more likely individuals are to agree with pro-Russian narratives

“Fears can be a gateway to radicalization processes and manipulation” stated Pia Lamberty, Co-Director of Cemas Cemas has been tracking public anxieties since 2022, with concerns surrounding war peaking in May 2025 Despite growing fears, a majority of respondents – 53 percent – report feeling inadequately informed and expressed a desire for greater clarity from the government regarding potential war risks

The survey further reveals a limited level of preparedness for national defense among the German population Only 20 percent of those surveyed indicated a willingness to militarily defend the country if attacked and just nine percent had considered joining the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) A larger segment, 24 percent, felt they would need to take self-defense measures in a crisis scenario – a sentiment particularly prominent among supporters of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party

The Cemas survey, conducted through Bilendi, involved 2,136 participants between April 24th and May 18th