Armament: "I don't think more weapons will bring peace"

The debt brake on defense spending has been suspended. The CDU/CSU and SPD have not ruled out the reintroduction of compulsory military service. And leading military figures are publicly discussing when Russia might be able to attack NATO territory.

In the 21st episode of Why Do You Think That?, the guests discuss rearmament and the militarization of society: How should Europe defend itself if Donald Trump questions US NATO protection? Can weapons really bring peace? Or is German politics neglecting diplomatic means to end and prevent wars?

In the studio, two people sit opposite each other who have very different views on this issue. Patrick Sensburg, 53, is president of the Bundeswehr Reservist Association. He also served in the Bundestag for the CDU. Sensburg was the only member of his parliamentary group to vote against the suspension of conscription in 2011 and believes the current rearmament plans are correct.

Bascha Mika, 71, was editor-in-chief of the Taz newspaper and the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper for many years. She was born in Poland nine years after the end of World War II and, influenced by her father's traumatic war experiences, later became active in the peace movement. She complains about fear-mongering and that even peace researchers today focus too much on military strategies instead of non-military paths to a world without war.

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