Swedish Defence University
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Framgångsfaktorer i Kustnära Krigföring
No full textNaval warfare has for a long time been carried out on the open ocean, but the latest trend seems to change things. Contemporary naval warfare is now being fought in the coastal regions. This change in scenery makes the combat more complex than ever before, since it not only involves naval forces, but land- and air forces as well. This means that threats are constantly being projected from more than one domain at a time. The theories trying to explain contemporary naval warfare are old and not developed for littoral warfare. There are also different opinions whether these old theories are sufficient or if there is a need for newer ones. This thesis uses a theory testing approach to examine if Milan Vego’s theory can explain success in littoral warfare. The Falklands war and the Gulf war were chosen for the comparative case study using a most different design. The aim of the study is therefore to better understand the phenomenon and answer the question: Which factors can explain success in Littoral Warfare? The study concludes that three of five factors from the theory are important for success. These factors being mission command, joint operations and air superiority. Since these are traditional factors for success, the study suggests that a separate theory for littoral warfare might not be necessary
Huthirörelsen och hybridkrig : En aktörsdriven analys av väpnad konflikt i Jemen 2004–2025
No full textOver the course of 2004-2025 the Houthi Rebels have massively increased their standing in Yemen and the Red sea. Lately, warfare has also seen a great change, blurring the lines between war and peace, thus hybrid war has become a central subject of discussion. Despite this, the Houthi Rebels have received little attention leading to the overlooking of their actor-specific variations, both beyond and within the military aspect. This paper aims to shed light on their methods used by the Houthies and how they have developed through the lens of Frank G. Hoffman’s theoretical framework of Hybrid warfare. The study concludes that the Houthis have implemented more ambitious and sophisticated methods over time, in order to maintain a criminal state and undermine the Yemini government. Additionally, the Houthis have seen a large numerical increase due to the effective spread of propaganda and repression. The study also concludes that the Houthis' use of advanced conventional weapons, provided by Iran, has had a substantial impact on the Houthis’ ability to challenge superior adversaries. Further, the use of indiscriminate violence has seen an increase for the sole purpose of terror on land and at sea, which has served as an effective deterrence strategy. Nyckelord: Hybridkrigföring, Huthirebellerna, Jemen, Iran,
Mind The Gap and Fuzzy Edges : Concept-evolution and the growing space for strategic uncertainty in Swedish military strategic doctrine
No full textThis thesis examines the evolution of the concepts of peace, war, and that inbetweenacross Sweden’s four Military Strategic Doctrines (MSD) from 2002to 2022. Adopting an interpretivist research design and applying FredericSchaffer’s concept-elucidation method, the study analyses how these coreconcepts have shifted over time and assesses the implications for the SwedishArmed Forces. The findings indicate a gradual conceptual drift, particularlyin the delineation of the in-between, leading to an expanded and increasinglyambiguous space between peace and war. This shift, compounded by the useof strategic gradualism and ambiguity by adversaries, generates a problematicspace for strategic uncertainty. The study concludes that such ambiguity, incombination with the challenges posed to shared understandings by the rapidconcept evolution, complicates military build-up, readiness and decisionmakingshort of war
Ak 5 är i nuvarande skick av dålig kvalitet! En SCOT-studie utav anskaffningen av Automatkarbin 5
No full textThe thesis aims to find out how the procurement process of the Automatkarbin 5 assault rifle resulted in the adaption of the rifle by the Swedish military. To accomplish this the author uses Social Constructionof Technology (SCOT) to explain how different actors behaved during the adoption process. Three central principles of SCOT are utilized to explain and analyze these behaviors. These concepts are the technological frame, relevant social groups and interpretative flexibility. The three research questionsposited are: • Which role did the actors have during the procurement of the AK 5? • Why did the FNC assault rifle and the SS109 cartridge emerge victorious over the otherweapons? • How and why did Sweden choose to adopt the AK 5? The author finds that the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (Försvarets Materielverk) was a key actor in the beginning of the process with a lot of power, which waned as the procurement went on. This power was then shared with the Army Staff (Arméstaben) and the Infantry Combat School (Infanteriets Stridsskola) in later stages. They used this power to influence the Chief of the Armys selection of the FNC over the FFV 890C for further trials and eventual adoption as the AK 5. The recommendation of the FNC over the FFV 890C was based on conclusions that were in turn based on very strange and logically inconsitent interpretations of test data. The Infantry Combat School would in later trials argue that the AK 5 was of poor quality, and lamented that the AK 5 by 1985 had to be adopted despite serious flaws in it’s construction quality. The AK 5 was therefore adopted and issued to troops despite being unfinished
Innovation Climate in Military Organizations : A Multi-level Analysis of the Swedish Armed Forces
No full textThis study investigates the collective perception of the innovation climate (IOC) within the Swedish Armed Forces, focusing on employees' experiences across various organizational levels and military service branches. Utilizing an existing measurement instrument, developed for civilian contexts, the study explores its applicability in a military environment. The research examines how organizational factors and demographic variables (education and service length) influence perceptions of the innovation climate. By contextualizing findings within established theories on innovation climate, military culture, and organizational culture, the study contributes new insights into the variation of IOC within military organizations. The results aim to inform leadership practices, policy development, and organizational strategies, offering guidance on how to enhance the Armed Forces' adaptive capabilities in an increasingly complex security environment. This study addresses a key research gap by exploring innovation climate in a hierarchical, rule-bound context
Coma of Legitimisation? A Frame Dispute Inquiry of Swedish Armed Forces Veterans captured between Professional Identity, Societal Expectations, and Political Decision-Making
No full textThis Thesis investigates how Swedish Armed Forces (SAF) veterans perceived the public debate concerning their international deployments. Building on a concept of social interaction and perception theories, it highlights the existence of frame disputes. Consequently, within the field of War Studies, a sociological micro-level of the individual sense-making is centred. A qualitative inquiry involving narrative in-depth interviews with seven SAF veterans was conducted. Due to qualitative content analysis, it became evident that the veterans perceived the public debate as non-existent. Accordingly, frame disputes were discovered on three different levels. Firstly, these disputes grew complex as veterans contrasted their mission meanings with governmental strategies. Secondly, this was further reflected in indifferent support and a lack of empathy from the Swedish population. Lastly, veterans struggled with emotional openness within military culture and the SAF's psychological support systems. The discussion highlights that participatory powerlessness and passivity in international coalitions hinder the Swedish government’s ability to credibly enforce its political goals in crisis areas. This difficulty affects veterans’ ability to reconcile their identities with Swedish society. Consequently, emotional openness regarding frame disputes in family and friend circles has diminished, leading to social alienation among soldiers and limiting emotional conflicts to military peers. However, surveys indicate that the post-deployment psychological assistance is inadequate to effectively address these frame disputes, giving rise to moral injuries. To prevent these issues, a constructive and meaningful debate about the political goals, societal values, military culture, and the state's role needs to be established within Swedish society for future SAF missions overseas. Hence, politics and the SAF’s military culture must address how to provide soldiers with a sense of purpose while developing strategies for military success.
I skärningspunkten mellan militära och civila behov : En undersökning av arméns metoder för att tillgodose jordbruket med arbetskraft under perioden 1940–1942
No full textIn this essay the main question that was researched was how the army were to supply the agricultural sector with personnel during the years 1940–1942. The broader purpose was to create knowledge about how actors in the civil and military sector were to interract. Another purpose was to create knowledge about how the army was to handle the agricultural sector with all it’s differing needs. The main value of this study is that it was able to look at one aspect of how the interests of the military and the policy of public supply of foodstuffs were supposed to compete and/or harmonize. This topic is of importance for the broader field of study surounding the period of societal preparedness for war in Sweden during the second world war. It is also important for our understanding of the army’s role in the states policy for crisis managment of public supply of foodstuffs. The material used were orders from the organisational department of the army staff and the army operations department of the defense staff. The army was understood as an organisation with institutional baggage that had to deal with a new task. What was studied is which methods of supplying the agricultural sector with personnel were to be used. A method in this context is a way of picking out the relevant personnel and a way of getting them to the agricultural sector. Special attention was directed at how the methods were to take the agricultural sector’s needs into account. How the new task was supposed to be integrated with the existing practices and organisational structure was also researched. In doing this, categorisations, limiting requirements and priorities were studied. How domains for action were divided between the different actors in the organisational field were discussed. The essay shows that four main methods of supplying the agricultural sector with personnel from the army were to be used. In three of the methods the farmers were to be sent home to work in their home region. In one of the methods the personnel were to work in the agricultural sector at the location of their unit. The handling of the task was very varied and the methods overlapped and were changed several times. The methods were mainly targeted to different needs in the agricultural sector and several ways of taking the agriultural sector’s needs in to account was supposed to be implemented. The new task was supposed to be integrated into the army’s existing way of doing personnel management and was to be adapted to the rhythm in the organisation. The army’s domain was to take care of the personnel management. All the agricultural knowledge and instructions on what personnel was needed, when, where and for what were to be supplied from the other central or regional authorities. Suggesting that the army’s handling of this task was highly dependent on other authorities for their expertise and cooperation
Taktiskt beslutsfattande som lärandeinnhåll : En beskrivning av hur taktiskt beslutsfattande framställs och tränas av svenska stridspiloter under gruppchefsutbildningens simulatorskede
No full textEffective tactical decision-making under time pressure is crucial in aerial combat, yet research on how fighter pilots are trained in this capacity remains limited. This study describes how tactical decision-making is presented and made to learning content during simulator-based exercises within the Swedish fighter pilot 4-ship upgrade course. Utilizing qualitative methods, including text analysis of official training documents, direct observation of simulator sessions, and semi-structured instructor interviews, this research identifies and describes critical pedagogical practices. The findings illustrate that current training scenarios effectively challenge pilots by simulating complex, highly challenging conditions requiring rapid decision-making. The Recognition Primed Decision (RPD) model, Situational Awareness (SA), and Military-Pedagogical Planning Model (MPPM) are central theoretical frameworks used in the analysis. Results reveal strengths in scenario realism and instructor adaptation to individual trainee needs, significantly enhancing trainees’ tactical decision making competence. This study contributes academically by bridging the knowledge gap between established decision-making theories and the military-pedagogical dimension. Thus, the research provides insights valuable to both academics and educators in military as well as civilian contexts
Culture under Attack, legal framework in non-international armed conflicts and the role of the ICC
No full textCan James D. Fearon’s "Bargaining Range" theory explain the failure of the Rambouillet negotiations and the success of the Kumanovo agreement?
No full textThis study tests the ability of James D. Fearon's Bargaining Range theory in explaining the different outcomes of negotiations during the Kosovo War; the failed Rambouillet negotiations and the successful Kumanovo Agreement. Through a qualitative, theory-testing case study, the research investigates how power dynamics, information and trust, and issue indivisibility shaped the two negotiation's outcome. Findings suggest that the Rambouillet negotiations failed primarily due to a Serbian power advantage, distrust between parties, and the presence of indivisible issues. NATO’s military intervention reversed the power dynamics before the Kumanovo Agreement, increasing transparency and forcing compromise, despite the persistence of core indivisible issues. The results support Fearon’s theory, emphasizing that power dynamics and credible commitments can expand the bargaining range. This study contributes to the empirical validation of rationalist explanations for war and highlights the role of international actors in shaping negotiation dynamics. It serves as a useful tool for military personnel to understand the complexity and scale of a war they may encounter and thereby encourage greater understanding of purpose and ability on a strategic and operational level