How is service history associated with returning veterans' attitudes about democracy? Existing research predicts pro-government militia veterans have less support for democracy because of political efficacy gained from service and divergent policy preferences from the general population. We test that theory in Ukraine through surveys of both returning veterans and the general population between 2019 and 2022. Our findings differ from predictions. Veterans who joined the armed forces as volunteers were more supportive of democracy as an institution than ordinary Ukrainians. At the same time, Army volunteers, as well as veterans who were drafted into the armed forces and veterans who were rejected from the armed forces and joined pro-government militias were more likely to be dissatisfied with democracy. In-depth interviews reveal both those rejected from the armed forces and army conscripts opposed democracy because they felt rampant draft evasion made civilians unqualified to make political decisions.

中文翻译：

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退伍军人对民主的态度：来自乌克兰 ATO 退伍军人调查的证据


服役历史与回国退伍军人对民主的态度有何关系？现有研究预测，由于从服务中获得的政治效力以及普通民众不同的政策偏好，亲政府的民兵退伍军人对民主的支持较少。我们通过对 2019 年至 2022 年间返回的退伍军人和普通民众的调查，在乌克兰检验了这一理论。我们的发现与预测不同。作为志愿者加入武装部队的退伍军人比普通乌克兰人更支持民主制度。与此同时，陆军志愿者、应征入伍的退伍军人以及被军队拒绝加入亲政府民兵的退伍军人更有可能对民主感到不满。深入采访显示，那些被武装部队拒绝的人和应征入伍的士兵都反对民主，因为他们认为猖獗的逃兵行为使平民没有资格做出政治决定。