Executive Summary
The study "Security 2026" by the Military Academy and the Center for Security Studies at ETH Zurich shows that Swiss citizens assess the global political situation (86%) and Switzerland's future (37%) significantly more pessimistically than in 2025. The sense of security is at its lowest level in 20 years (82%). At the same time, the proportion of those who believe defense spending is too low reaches 29%, the highest value since measurements began in 1986. 56% of eligible voters support NATO rapprochement, and 43% view membership in a European defense alliance as safer than neutrality.
People
- Dr. phil. Tibor Szvircsev Tresch (Lead Editor of the "Security" Study Series, Lecturer in Military Sociology)
Topics
- Swiss security policy
- Defense spending
- NATO rapprochement
- Neutrality
- Public opinion
Clarus Lead
The erosion of confidence in neutrality as a protective model is accelerating dramatically: While support for neutrality remains at 85%, it has fallen by 12 percentage points since 2022. The majority of respondents (59%) no longer consider military neutrality credible today – a signal of fundamental shifts in Swiss security architecture. The study documents for the first time a majority (43%) in favor of membership in a European defense alliance, while willingness for military self-defense (78%) and non-military assistance (85%) reach record-high levels.
Detailed Summary
The data is based on a combined online and telephone survey conducted by DemoSCOPE AG between January 6 and 30, 2026. The sample of 2,089 respondents (958 by telephone, 1,131 online) is representative of German-, French-, and Italian-speaking Switzerland; the sampling error is a maximum of ±2.1% at a 95% confidence level.
Regarding the military as an institution, confidence remains stable: 83% consider it absolutely or rather necessary (–4 pp compared to 2025). The desire to abolish conscription has fallen to 25% – the lowest value since the end of the Cold War. 72% see the military as serving the cohesion of multilingual Switzerland.
Regarding concrete defense readiness: 78% support military defense in wartime, 49% would personally fight with weapons. There is broad support for non-military contributions (85%). On weapons deliveries to direct neighboring states, 55% are in favor, while only 31% support the deployment of Swiss troops.
Key Findings
- Record-high global political pessimism: 86% assess the global situation negatively, +5 pp compared to 2025
- Defense spending acceptance at all-time high: 29% believe it is too low (not reached since 1986)
- NATO rapprochement has majority support: 56% favor it, 43% view alliance membership as safer than neutrality
- Neutrality losing credibility: 59% believe military protection is impossible, support has fallen by 12 pp since 2022
- Security feeling at 20-year low: Only 82% feel safe (–4 pp)
Critical Questions
Data Quality: How is representativeness ensured when using different survey methods (online vs. telephone), and are there known biases between the two channels?
Timing of Survey: To what extent do the January 2026 results possibly reflect short-term reactions to current events rather than structural shifts in opinion?
Causality: Can the data distinguish whether pessimism about the global situation directly leads to increased acceptance of defense spending, or whether both phenomena are independent?
Neutrality Paradox: 85% still identify with neutrality, while 59% consider it militarily impossible – how is this contradiction interpreted?
Action Consequences: What specific political or military decisions are directly linked to these survey results?
Sample Stability: How are the 2,089 respondents distributed across the three language regions, and are regional differences significant?
Bibliography
Primary Source: Security 2026 – Study by the Military Academy (MILAK) at ETH Zurich and the Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zurich – https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/DAQdrwIdgNU0AH8nuAGOF
Data Collection: DemoSCOPE AG (January 2026) – Combined online and telephone survey, n=2,089
Verification Status: ✓ 26.05.2026
This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Checking: 26.05.2026