DEFENSE, ARMED FORCES AND SPANISH PUBLIC OPINION

Despite all the efforts made for adapting and modernizing our Armed Forces and the new kind of missions they face, the Spaniards do not show much interest neither in questions related to security and defense nor in supporting an increase in the defense budget. This paper examines the reasons for the reported low level of culture of defense existing among the Spanish citizenry and the possibilities to act on this sort of causes in order to offset its effects. Likewise, this report analyzes the measures adopted by the Spanish authorities in order to promote the culture of defense and highlights which are their main deficiencies and weaknesses.