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A Troubling Cost : A Study of the Republican Sacrifice in Murals
No full textThis article explores the representation of the cost of war in mainstream and dissident republican murals in Northern Ireland by examining depictions of bodily sacrifice in three historical rebellions. The study highlights how psychological resilience is valorized alongside physical sacrifice, reinforcing identity hierarchies within republicanism. This challenges assumptions of republican solidarity, revealing competitive dynamics within and between mainstream and dissident factions. Murals as expressions of the republican identity and collective memory show how cultural violence is embedded in the republican collective memory, legitimizing past violence while marginalizing dissenting perspectives. This perpetuation hinders societal healing, as these narratives exclude those who challenge the justification of violence, complicating efforts to address the mental health crisis stemming from the Troubles. The article underscores the critical role of visual culture in shaping collective memory and identity, perpetuating societal hierarchies and cultural violence. It also identifies the potential for reinterpretation of sacrifice, offering a path toward inclusive understandings of the Troubles
From the Linear to the Circular : Re-thinking Operational Depth
No full textThis is an exploratory, concept-developing compilation thesis focusing on Operational Art, particularly Depth. It is a fieldwork-oriented project using Israelas a case study to examine how a deficiency in physical Depth can be effectively managed in relation to an adversary, while challenging the common assumption that a lack of physical space inevitably leads to military defeat. The thesis utilises a theoretical foundation of manoeuvre theory (MT) and systemic operational design (SOD), and two specific approaches: first, it broadens the concept of Depth to include a cognitive element alongside its usual physical and temporal dimensions; second, it challenges the linear, reverse-engineered approach to Operational Art often seen in Western contexts by adopting a nonlinear perspective that emphasises anticipation and the cunning exploitation of emerging potential. Research was conducted in Israel across five periods, including interviews with a comprehensive group of seasoned generals and insightful others, field excursions, training in Operational Art, and case studies of previous engagements by the Israel Defence Forces. Three main contributions are presented: firstly, it offers hard-to access insights into Israeli operational thinking;secondly, it demonstrates how Depth can be expanded cognitively even when physical resources are limited;thirdly, it introduces and develops a circular model that can generate Depth in new ways by leveraging existing resources rather than focusing on what is missing. Thet hesis highlights a strong interest in Depth-related activity within Israeli operational thinking due to its limited geography and predominantly hostile neighbourhood. Consistent with the nonlinear approach, it concludes that Depth is best understood as the unrestricted freedom of manoeuvre available to the operational commander when engaging the enemy. Although operating in Depth is often regarded as more effective because it offers significantly greater freedom compared to the front, the main obstacle to achieving this freedom is created by friendly forces through doctrine, tradition, and the prevailing paradigm—obstacles that require active manipulation to secure sufficient operational freedom to act in new ways from one operation to another.Detta är en konceptutvecklande sammanläggningsavhandling om operationskonst och dess centrala parameter, Djup. Det är ett explorativt, fältstudie-fokuserat projekt där Israel används för att undersöka hur avsaknad av fysiskt Djup kan hanteras effektivt i förhållande till en väpnad motståndare. Genom sin litenhet jämfört med sitt operativa CV sätter Israel en egen standard och utmanar uppfattningen att frånvaron av fysiskt territorium leder till militärt nederlag. Med konceptutvecklande ambitioner breddas synen på Djup till att även inkludera kognitiva aspekter, utöver dess fysiska och temporala dimensioner. Dessutom utmanas den linjära tankegången och fokuset på ”reverse-engineering” som ofta finns i västliga operativa sammanhang. Istället antas en icke-linjär approach med fokus på förändring och möjligheter som uppstår under ett pågående skeende, vilket harmoniserar med den operativa filosofi som man hittar i Israel. Inhämtningen har skett i Israel under fem separata vistelser, där en grupp erfarna generaler och andra med viktiga insikter har intervjuats, parallellt med exkursioner i den operativa miljön, träning i operationskonst och fallstudier av operationer där Israels försvarsmakt, IDF, har deltagit. Dessa studier ger sällsynta insikter i israeliskt operativt tänkande, där ett stort intresse för djupoperationer kan observeras, samt att Djup kan förstås som det oinskränkta handlingsutrymme den operativa befälhavaren har i kampen mot motståndaren. De främsta hindren för effektivt och oförutsägbart agerande är enligt studien den egna sidans doktriner, traditioner och organisatoriska strukturer, vilka kräver aktiv manipulation för att maximera den operativa effekten. När fysiskt Djup är begränsat framhävs vikten av ett kognitivt angreppssätt, vilket stöds av en cirkulär modell för att utnyttja de verktyg vi faktiskt har, i stället för att fokusera på vad som saknas. Avhandlingen försöker varken förstå eller förklara det pågående kriget i regionen, eller den större frågan som berör Israel och Palestina
Sveriges säkerhetspolitiska vändning : En teorianvändande fallstudie i påverkan på Sveriges säkerhetspolitik, utifrån invasionen av Ukraina 2022 och det inrikespolitiska systemet som möjliggjorde en Natoansökan
No full textSweden’s change in foreign policy following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the spring of 2022 is an interesting case for foreign policy analysis of how Sweden went from following a practice of non-alignment for around two hundred years and how this was changed by Sweden’s ascension into NATO. The process that started at the beginning of spring in 2022 and was finished in 2024. This essay is an analysis of Sweden’s political debate surrounding the country’s ascension into NATO 2022. The analysis is based on Hudson’s (2014) framework for how the domestic political environment influences foreign policymaking. How the government and opposition used different methods to support their decision making and how the Swedish Social Democratic party decided on its decision to support the Swedish ascension to NATO.
Cooperation across Iron Triangles : How the Institutional Design of Modern European Defence Organizations Shapes Armament Cooperation
No full textWhy have some international armament organizations, despite being designed towards the same goal of producing effective joint armament projects, managed to do so while others have not? This study argues that the institutional design of defence organizations shapes their cooperative armament effectiveness due to the two-level game structure of cooperative arms development and procurement. Institutions can support these structures across national iron triangles of political, military and defence-industrial actors through their degree of centralization and actor-inclusiveness. By constructing a multidimensional, explanatory typology and testing its congruence through the illustrative cases of NORDEFCO and OCCAR, the study highlights the impact of institutional designs on cooperative armament outcomes. It concludes that OCCAR’s centralization of bureaucratic capacities and inclusive design vis-à-vis defence-industrial actors resulted in its highly effective armament outcomes, while the lack of these institutional features can explain NORDEFCO’s dire performance. While further research should focus on expanding the typology and its degree of generalization, this study makes an important contribution to our understanding of the nexus between institutions and defence cooperation. By highlighting that institutions can be precisely structured to increase the effectiveness of joint projects of military force generation, prospective European re-armament efforts could be organized more effectively
The use of simulations in economic cybersecurity decision-making
No full textThis paper presents an in-depth examination of the use of simulations in economic cybersecurity decision-making, highlighting the dual nature of their potential and the challenges they present. Drawing on examples from existing studies, we explore the role of simulations in generating new knowledge about probabilities and consequences in the cybersecurity domain, which is essential in understanding and managing risk and uncertainty. Additionally, we introduce the concepts of “bookkeeping” and “abstraction” within the context of simulations, discussing how they can sometimes fail and exploring the underlying reasons for their failures. This discussion leads us to suggest a framework of considerations for effectively utilizing simulations in cybersecurity. This framework is designed not as a rigid checklist but as a guide for critical thinking and evaluation, aiding users in assessing the suitability and reliability of a simulation model for a particular decision-making context. Future work should focus on applying this framework in real-world settings, continuously refining the use of simulations to ensure they remain effective and relevant in the dynamic field of cybersecurity
"De stupade för freden" : En kvalitativ innehållsanalys av svenska lokala perspektiv på insatsen i Kongo 1960-1964
No full textThis essay examines how two Swedish local newspapers portrayed the Swedish participation in the United Nations operation in the Congo (ONUC) and its shift from peacekeeping to peace enforcement 1960–1961. Related research on the Swedish part of ONUC has primarily focused on the military and political aspects or the coverage on ONUC by the largest newspapers in Sweden; Svenska Dagbladet, Aftonbladet and Dagens Nyheter. This led to the primary research problem of the essay focusing on examining the local perspectives on ONUC to create a more nuanced view of the Swedish perception of the UN operation. The overall purpose of the essay is to study how local newspapers presented and framed the initial transformation from peacekeeping to peace enforcement. This is done in order to understand how these smaller communities perceived ONUC The essay uses a qualitative content analysis in tandem with Robert E. Entman's framing theory. This theory explains how news media uses selection and emphasis of certain information that create a simplified narrative. The narrative is used to forward certain problem definitions, causal interpretations, moral evaluations and proposed solutions. The methodological approach involves categorising articles depending on what frames they propagate through a variety of means. The study is divided into two phases; the first one focuses on the initial reaction to ONUC in July 1960, while the second focuses on the transformation of ONUC from peacekeeping to peace enforcement in September 1961. The results of the first study phase show that both Hudiksvallstidningen and Sölvesborgstidningen emphasized the chaotic situation in the Congo. However the newspapers differ in their focus, with the former highlighting the poor leadership in the Congo, and the latter the moral responsibility of Sweden to assist. In the second study phase, both newspapers portrayed the heroic sacrifice of the Swedish United Nations soldier in the name of peace while also highlighting the bad character of their enemy, the white mercenary in the service of the Katangese Gendarmerie. The results of the essay highlight how these two newspapers advertently or inadvertently shaped their readers' perception by constructing frames that created a simplified narrative. This led to the conclusion that these local newspapers propagated narratives distinct from those of the largest national newspapers. This essay has shown the value of studying local perspectives to gain a greater understanding for how local news media can shape their respective communities' understanding of world events.
Svenskar under Dannebrogen: Skandinavism,äventyrslystnad och ambition : En studie angående svenska läkares och officerares angivna motiv för frivilligtdeltagande i 1864 års dansk-tyska krig
No full textAbstract This study explores the motivations behind Swedish volunteers’ participation in the 1864 Danish-German War, focusing on memoirs written by Swedish officers and medics. The research problem addresses the factors that led individuals to fight in a conflict rather unrelated to Sweden, aiming to understand the values, ideals, and political contexts influencing their decisions. The purpose of this study is to analyze and compare the motivations expressed in the memoirs of a selected group of officers and medics in order to explore the factors that influenced their justifications for participating in the war. The theoretical framework guiding this analysis is NirArielli’s model, which categorizes motivations into three key categories: "Agency," "Push and PullFactors," and "The Common Denominator." These categories help explain the ideological, personal, and existential factors that led individuals to volunteer. In order to reveal the motivations, a qualitative text analysis was employed, using an author-oriented interpretive strategy, to address the research questions. The analysis focused on identifying text segments in which volunteers explicitly stated their reasons for participating in the war. These segments were then categorized based on Arielli’s framework, enabling a systematic comparison between officers and medics. The results show that both officers and medics were motivated by a combination of ideological and personal factors. Officers were mainly driven by career advancement, honor, and Scandinavian ideals, while medics emphasized humanitarian values and practical medical experience. Both groups shared a common existential desire for meaning and purpose, as highlighted by the "Common Denominator" category, which provided insights into deeper motivations. In conclusion, the study contributes to a broader understanding of Swedish voluntary participation in foreign conflicts by highlighting the diverse motivations of the volunteers who participated in the 1864 war. It also provides a foundation for future research on voluntary military participation in both historical and contemporary conflicts
Non-materialism matters (not) : What makes some rebel groups moremilitarily effective than others?
No full textWhat makes some rebel groups more militarily effective than others? Research on intrastate armed conflicts indicate that the military strength of rebel groups may affect everything from conflict outcome and duration to levels of civilian victimization. However, the same studies often make little effort to understand what constitutes rebel military strength, electing to represent the dynamic relationship between rebel groups and governments using simple, often material measurements. This study seeks to rectify this by borrowing the idea of military effectiveness—the ability to destroy hostile forces while preserving one’s own—from the interstate conflict literature. I argue that rebel militarily effectiveness primarily is determined by non-material rather than material factors. The results of my analysis indicate that this argument is incorrect, as neither strictly non-material nor strictly material factors appear to determine rebel military effectiveness. However, the findings suggest that the ability to control territory is associated with greater rebel military effectiveness, while the ability to mobilize fighters is associated with a decrease in effectiveness. There also appears to be a correlation between high rebel military effectiveness and shorter conflicts. While the findings may not revolutionize our understanding of intrastate armed conflict as a phenomenon, the thesis nevertheless displays the viability of rebel military effectiveness as an alternative to the current forms of measurement
David och Goliat, en blodig dans i öknen : En teoriprövning av idealmodellen genom israelisk taktik på Sinaifronten 1967 och 1973
No full textHow to achieve victory in battle has been studied for ages. Today theorists mainly fall into two categories, those that favour physical superiority, and those that favour psychological superiority. One theory differentiates itself from the main body by combining these two views into one, the ideal model sequence by Thunholm and Henåker. The theory describes seven sequences that lead to tactical victory. Thunholm and Henåker claims a probabilistic relation between the use of the model and achieving tactical victory. The more sequences that are present in the case the greater the chance of success. Henåker has in his Ph.D. thesis tested the theory against wargames. This study aims to test if the theory can be applied to two historical cases of manoeuvre warfare during the second half of the 20th century. By applying the theory on two historical cases the theory can be tested in a new context, thereby expanding the knowledge of how to achieve tactical victory. By studying how the theory explains how the battles would have been fought and then comparing it the empirical material can we compare the result with the theoretical explanation. The result shows that the sequences in the theory can be present in the cases without resulting in a tactical victory. The study finds that merely the presence of the sequences does not lead to tactical success, instead to what degree the enemy is affected determines the outcome of the battle