Swedish Defence University
Not a member yet
3733 research outputs found
Sort by
The Emerging World Order in the 21st Century : An English School Approach
No full textHow do we understand the emerging world order under the twin shocks of war in Europe and an American president determined to put “America First”? A forum on the English School approach, organized under the aegis of the Institute for International Economic Affairs in Athens on 27 May 2025 (IIER 2025) considered the question in terms of changes in the primary institutions of international society, including the balance of power, diplomacy, the regulation of war, great power management and the market. A summary of the findings follows, with an introduction on how the English School theorizes change in international society.
To lead or to follow in the real estate industry : A study about real estate actors’ leadership within information security
No full textStudien ämnar skapa förståelse för hur personer i ledande befattningar arbetar med informationssäkerhet inom fastighetsbranschen, och relatera detta till Nätverk och informationssystemsdirektivet 2. Kvalitativ metod tillsammans med en tematisk analys har gett upphov till en djupgående förståelse av valda fenomen. För att besvara frågeställningen genomfördes semistrukturerade intervjuer med 11 personer i ledande befattningar inom fastighetsbranschen. Fem teman har framkommit: externa krav, kompetens och teknisk kapacitet, struktur och processer inom informationssäkerhet, säkerhetskultur och arbetssätt och ledarskap och styrning. Resultatet visar att strategiskt och operativt ledarskap samt intern kompetens är centralt för att fastighetsorganisationer ska arbeta med informationssäkerhet. Utan dessa riskerar fastighetsorganisationer att nedprioritera området. Fastighetsbranschen visar på en ökad prioritering av informationssäkerhet med anledning av externa faktorer, som kundkrav och lagar som NIS 2, omvärldsfaktorer och interna drivkrafter. En komplexitet uppstår i hur man ska balansera resurser, i en fråga som inte omfattas av kärnverksamhet. Detta kan skapa hinder för verksamheter att utöka sitt interna säkerhetsarbete men även säkerhet inom fastigheterna. Utöver detta uppstår en utmaning i att förändra beteenden på operativ nivå, trots säkerhetsmedvetande inom andra områden. Vidare forskning rekommenderas att utföra fallstudier, undersöka den mest lämpliga ledarskapsstilen för att skapa engagemang i frågor utanför ens kärnuppgift, och lagregleringars indirekta effekter på organisationer
Motivation till värnplikt : En enkätstudie bland svenska ungdomar
No full textAs Sweden reintroduces compulsory military service (värnplikt) as part of its total defense strategy, questions about young people's willingness and motivation to serve have become increasingly relevant. Previous research has shown that this motivation varies by gender, but few studies have focused on youth prior to conscription. This study aims to explore how motivation to undergo military service differs between young Swedish men and women, using Self-Determination Theory (SDT) as a theoretical framework. A quantitative survey was conducted among 51 Swedish youths eligible for military service, 30 men and 21 women. The questionnaire included 13 statements addressing psychological needs (autonomy, competence, relatedness) and types of motivation (external, introjected, identified and intrinsic). Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the results, with a specific focus on gender differences. The results showed that women reported slightly stronger feelings of autonomy regarding their decision to perform military service, while men felt more influenced by societal expectations. Men generally showed greater confidence in their physical and mental abilities and expressed a stronger belief in forming social bonds during service. In terms of motivation types, men reported higher levels of identified and intrinsic motivation, whereas both groups rated identified motivation relatively high, suggesting that many view military service as personally valuable. Women, on the other hand, more frequently expressed uncertainty, particularly regarding physical ability and social inclusion. The study contributes to the understanding of early defense willingness and highlights the importance of creating supportive environments that meet young people's psychological needs to foster motivation among all conscripts. Further research withbroader samples is recommended to strengthen these findings
Motståndaren och terrängens påverkan på tillämpningen av Friedmans nio principer om framgång i krig : en jämförande studie av slagen vid Okinawa och Inchon
No full textThe purpose of the assay is to identify and explain in which extent the application of Friedman's nine principles of success in war is affected by the variables: Enemy and Terrain, in the Battle of Okinawa and in the Battle of Inchon, respectively. The results demonstrate the importance of managing variables such as Enemy and Terrain to achieve success in operations that begin with an amphibious assault. The Battle of Okinawa lacks a large proportion of Friedman's nine principles both during the amphibious assault and during the latter part of the operation, while Inchon fulfills almost all of them throughout the operation. The reason for this difference is how the United States was forced to act tactically based on the enemy and the terrain. The study is a positive, qualitative, comparative case study, that uses a most similar design to detect the difference between the two cases. As dependent variables, Friedman's nine principles, i.e. Maneuver, Mass, Firepower, Tempo, Deception, Surprise, Confusion, Shock and Moral Cohesion, were used. As non-dependent variables the success factors Enemy and Terrain, defined by Clausewitz and Leonhard respectively, were used
Säkerhetiseringen av Islam i Sverige : En tematisk analys av svenska muslimers upplevelser
No full textDenna studie undersöker svenska muslimers upplevelser av säkerhetisering i Sverige genom en tematisk analys. Med utgångspunkt i säkerhetiseringsteorin, teorin om permanent säkerhet samt begreppet muslim policy, analyseras hur svenska muslimer upplever att de pekas ut som ett säkerhetshot och huruvida de upplever påtryckningar att reformera sin religiösa praxis för att accepteras i samhället. Studien baseras på en enkätundersökning med 1 281 deltagare där fritextsvar analyseras kvalitativt. Resultaten visar att många svenska muslimer upplever en kollektiv skuldbeläggning, där individens ansvar utvidgas till att omfatta hela gruppen, samt att förebyggande åtgärder riktas mot muslimer utan konkret misstanke. Studien finner också att krav på assimilering och religiös reform ofta framställs som en nödvändighet för att muslimer ska kunna betraktas som fullvärdiga medborgare. Resultaten diskuteras i ljuset av historiska och samtida säkerhetiseringsprocesser, där paralleller dras till tidigare koloniala strategier. Studien bidrar till en djupare förståelse av hur säkerhetisering av muslimer tar sig uttryck i en svensk kontext och belyser konsekvenserna av denna process för nationell identitet och social sammanhållning. Nyckelord: säkerhetisering, islam, muslimer, Sverige, permanent säkerhet, muslim policy, diskriminering, assimilering, kollektiv skuld
Digital Propaganda on X : A discourse analysis of the Russian Embassy’s in Sweden posts on X
No full textThis thesis investigates the role of the Russian Embassy in Sweden in influencing Sweden, focusing on its use of social media during Russia’s war in Ukraine and Sweden’s NATO application process. While previous research has explored state-sponsored media and their impact on Sweden, little attention has been given to embassies’ roles despite their central role in public diplomacy and propaganda. Russia has increasingly encouraged its embassies to emphasise social media and respond quickly to events, making this an important yet underexplored area. Addressing this gap, this thesis analyses the embassy's posts on X (formerly Twitter) using discourse analysis and a theoretical framework of discourse theory and digital propaganda. The analysis identifies six recurring themes in the embassy’s discourse: Russophobia, Sweden in the war, war crimes, the economy, Sweden and NATO, and Nord Stream. It finds that the embassy’s discourse selectively omits relevant facts to present an alternative truth. Moreover, the analysis finds that the embassy’s approach to posting aligns with the characteristics of digital propaganda. By leveraging previous academic literature and situating the embassy’s role within the broader Russian influence network, this thesis demonstrates that the Russian Embassy in Sweden plays a complementary role in Russia's multichannel influence strategy. It highlights how the embassy disseminates themes consistent with other Russian actors, contributing to broader propaganda efforts. This study provides insights into how embassies function as tools of influence, offering implications for countering similar operations in other contexts
Brödrafolk och vapenbröder? En politisk idéanalys av debatten om ett gemensamt försvar med Norge under 1880-talet
No full textThe purpose of this study is to examine the common defence policy of the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway during the late 1880s. And the role that the common defence policy played in Swedish parliamentary debate. The study will take the form of an analysis of political ideas. The ideas will be systemised according to the previously stated methodology of analysing political ideas. These ideas will then be related to and analysed using R. L. Rothstein’s theoretical framework presented in his work Alliances and Small Powers. The results which can be drawn from this study can be summarised as follows. The question of the common defence policy does not constitute an important political issue in its own right. However, it is frequently used as an argument when discussing other topics relating to the relations between the United Kingdoms. It can also be said that the common defence policy faces severe difficulties. And the view of how to develop the cooperation differs substantially between Swedes and Norwegians. These differences in view can partly be explained by the history of the union between the two countries. But also as a result of the complex nature of alliances involving small states, according to Rothstein’s theoretical framework.
Heated Policy Change : A Framing Analysis of the Swedish and Danish Policy Response to the 2023 Quran Crisis
No full textIn 2023, Denmark and Sweden faced negative security and foreign policy consequences when Qurans were publicly burned in each country. Despite similarities in crisis characteristics and that implications appeared worse for Sweden, only Denmark responded with significant policy change by prohibiting improper treatment of religious scriptures. Previous research has identified reasons for why and how crises can facilitate significant policy change, and potential factors that may inhibit it. However, since these factors are not always applicable and the policy response in Denmark and Sweden is previously unresearched, knowledge on why the level of policy change differed is low. Thus, the aim of this thesis was to investigate how policymakers in Denmark and Sweden reacted to the 2023 Quran Crisis, how the policy processes unfolded, and identify factors that can help explain the difference in policy outcome. To accomplish this aim, a framing analysis in accordance with Boin, t’Hart, and McConnell’s framework on crisis exploitation was utilized to analyze the framing contests in Denmark and Sweden. The findings suggest that the Danish government perceived it as a significant crisis caused by repeated provocative Quran burnings. In Sweden, consequences were at times played down and blame for them diffused over multiple actors. Findings also indicate a more pragmatic stance on freedom of expression and a stronger willingness to compromise from the Danish government compared to the Swedish parties. The existence of a substantial blame game in Sweden can also have affected the difference in policy change. This thesis thus contributes to a better understanding of how the 2023 Quran Crisis was perceived and handled by policymakers in Sweden and Denmark, and why the policy outcome diverged
Emotions in Radical Left Populists' EU-Security Discourse: Challenging Populism through Laclau and Mouffe : An emotional discourse analysis of Sinn Féin’s political rhetoric ahead of the 2024 EP election
No full textThis thesis investigates the paradox of perceived human insecurities in high-HDI nations despite improvements in well-being, linking this to the rise of populism in European politics. It examines Sinn Féin, a populist left-wing party in Ireland, focusing on security as a floating signifier in the party’s EU-Security discourse and its emotional expressions. Utilising poststructuralist Discourse Theory and Emotional Discourse Analysis and drawing on research about Populism, emotions and Ontological security, the study identifies four nodal pointssovereignty, justice, neutrality, and change- that stabilise Sinn Féin’s discourse while highlighting ambiguities in empty signifiers. The analysis shows that nodal points are reinforced by emotional expressions like pride and nostalgia for sovereignty, existential anxiety over neutrality, anger at injustice, and hope for change. Sinn Féin balances inclusive values such as multiculturalism and solidarity with exclusionary views on migration and sovereignty, challenging the binary categorisation of populism. By illustrating the fluidity of security and the role of emotions in populist rhetoric, the thesis broadens the understanding of populism as a discursive continuum, not merely an ideological dichotomy. The study highlights the interplay of inclusionary and exclusionary dynamics in populist identity construction. By broadening the conceptualisation of Populism, the thesis challenges dominant security interpretations and emphasises the need for further research into the emotional and ideological complexities of populist discourses, especially in left-wing contexts