Defending the fortress: How asset ownership shapes the desire to resist foreign aggression

In recent years, security policy attitudes have surged to the forefront of public discourse, especially amidst geopolitical shifts like Russia’s incursions into Ukraine and China’s assertiveness in the South Asian Sea. Yet, despite its significance, scholarly focus on these attitudes, particularly concerning the will to resist foreign aggression, remains scant. This research endeavors to fill this gap by exploring the correlation between economic resources, primarily tangible asset ownership, and defense-related attitudes. Drawing on multiyear survey data from Finland – a nation uniquely positioned given its mandatory military service for males and its proximity to Russia’s sphere of interest – we find a strong association between tangible asset ownership and an increased willingness among citizens to resist foreign incursions. This relationship becomes even more pronounced during times of geopolitical uncertainty, underscoring the importance of the prevailing security environment in shaping these attitudes. While we do not refute previous arguments regarding increased economic opportunities leading to decreased war proclivity, we emphasize the conditional nature of this relationship, contingent upon the immediate threat to one’s material possessions. In essence, citizens are more inclined to defend what they have when the specter of war looms large.