Staying the course? Latvia’s choices between conscription and an all-volunteer force

This article explains three consecutive decisions by Latvian policymakers regarding conscription: Latvia’s decision to abolish conscription upon joining NATO in 2004, the decision not to reinstate conscription in the aftermath of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine in 2014, and the decision to reintroduce conscription in 2023. The article relies on interviews with key policymakers for its sources. It concludes that external security pressures played a key role in decision-making regarding military recruitment. However, Latvia’s case also demonstrates the significance of domestic influences. The absence of constituencies favouring conscription resulted in its demise shortly after Latvia’s accession to NATO. Post-2014, domestic influences negated external security pressures resulting in policy continuity. External security pressures explain Latvia’s decision to transition back to conscription from 2023, but the form and implementation of this policy were conditioned by domestic influences, resulting in small annual intakes of conscripts and concerns over potentially negative publicity.