Italy's 'Another Defense Is Possible' Campaign Pushes New Civil Defense Law

The Italian campaign "Un'altra difesa è possibile" is seeking 50,000 signatures to support a popular initiative that would create a Department of Armed and Nonviolent Civil Defense. The proposal was filed on 16 March 2026 in the Court of Cassation and calls for a defence structure that operates alongside the armed forces, drawing on the example of Sweden.

Critics note that the initiative lacks a national assembly of the original OSM‑DPN (Obiezione alle Spese Militari – Difesa Popolare Nonviolenta) movement and was drafted by the leadership of disarmament and peace organisations without broad grassroots input. The president of the MIR questioned the text’s definition of "complementary" defence and the lack of responses from the sponsoring groups. The campaign also references Italy’s rising military expenditure, which SIPRI reported at $48.1 billion in 2025, a 20 % increase over the previous year.

Supporters argue the law would institutionalise a non‑violent defence model, complementing the existing civil service and reducing reliance on traditional military spending.