Swedish Defence University
Not a member yet
3733 research outputs found
Sort by
Arrivederci aviatore : Om Sveriges militära flygutbildning som ombaserat utomlands
No full textThis study investigates the 2022 decision to outsource parts of the Swedish military pilot training program to Italy, a significant policy shift breaking with over a century of national tradition. Using Carol Bacchi’s WPR approach, the analysis explores the problem representations and underlying assumptions that shaped the decision, as well as what remained unproblematised in the process. The study is based on document analysis and interviews with key personnel within the Swedish Armed Forces. Findings suggest the decision was driven by resource constraints, pragmatism, and gradually normalised assumptions about internationalisation. Pedagogical, cultural, and professional implications were largely marginalised. The study highlights how military policy decisions are shaped by more than operational needs and emphasises the importance of a more strategically reflective decision-making model
Narrativ beväpnat : Strategisk kommunikation ur ett nytt perspektiv
No full textThe will to influence the cognitive domain of humans has always been a part of war. The technological development within communication and information has expanded the means and ways to do so. This thesis explores how the use of narrative in strategic communication can function as a weapon in the perspective of cognitive warfare. Using narrative analysis, key elements of Israels narrative on the war in Gaza is identified on platform X. The components are then analyzed from a cognitive perspective to find which elements can affect human cognition. The findings show that the narratives contain elements capable of shaping how reality is understood. The research contributes to the theoretical discussion on how communication can act as tool to influence human cognition that can be applicable to other conflicts. It offers insights on how cognitive elements can be used as a part of military strategy to legitimize violence
The War Crime of Attacking Peacekeeping Missions and Some Humanitarian Law Considerations
No full textMilitära fartygsrörelser i Östersjön : Effekter av säkerhetspolitiska händelser och avskräckningslogik
No full textMust i förändring : Kvalitet, hastighet och kommersialisering i en transversell underrättelsemiljö
No full textThis study investigates how increasing competition from private intelligence providers affects the analytical practices of state intelligence services, focusing on the Swedish Military Intelligence and Security Service (Must). It examines how commercial actors influence internal procedures, credibility assessments, institutional authority, and organizational adaptation. Using a qualitative, abductive design based on semi-structured elite interviews and narrative analysis, the research finds that private providers challenge traditional norms by introducing new temporal logics, market-driven priorities, and alternative standards of analytical validity. In response, Must has reconfigured workflows, increased operational tempo, and selectively engaged external expertise while maintaining strict quality controls. The study concludes that private actors serve not only as competitors but also as catalysts for innovation. Their presence fosters reflexivity, institutional learning, and epistemic pluralism. These findings contribute to understanding intelligence work as a hybrid, contested field shaped by evolving public-private dynamics and shifting expectations of expertise
How the European Defence Union is Shaping a New Era of Supranational Defence Integration : Examining how the ‘European Defence Union’ discourse has been constructed and employed by the European Commission to legitimize advanced EU defence integration following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022
No full textIn the context of Russia’s renewed war against Ukraine on February 24th, 2022, the European Union (EU) has undertaken unprecedented decisions, suggesting a deepening of integration. This challenges debates on the ‘renationalization’ and ‘de-Europeanization’ of EU security and defence policy, signaling an emergent Brusselization. Through an analysis of key defence initiatives – inter alia, EDIS, EDF, EDIRPA, ASAP, and EDIP – the thesis examines the European Defence Union (EDU) discourse as constructed and employed by the European Commission to legitimize advanced EU defence integration following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It examines how language and materiality intersect within sociotechnical imaginaries to further EU defence integration. Research on EU defence integration is predominantly rooted in neopositivist explanatory logics, often treating integration as a linear progression driven by external threats or functional pressures. Such literature tends to overlook ideational and material aspects of EU defence integration. Drawingon new materialism as an overarching meta theoretical orientation and Jasanoff’s (2015) conceptualization of sociotechnical imaginaries, the thesis examines the coalescence of language and materiality in constructing an EDU discourse. Methodologically, it employs Laclau & Mouffe’s (1985) Discourse Theory to illuminate how nodal points such as ‘strategic autonomy’, ‘resilience’, and ‘innovation and competitiveness’ stabilize the EDU discourse, fostering a ‘Brussels-driven’ defence integration. The thesis contributes to scholarship at the intersection of EU Studies and Science and Technology Studies (STS) by demonstrating the applicability of new materialism to the EU’s evolving defence architecture. Additionally, it offers an empirical contribution by conceptualizing the EDU as a constructed and employed by the European Commission to advance defence integration, challenging prevailing assumptions about the improbability of supranational integration in defence
Narrative in a Nordic Shift - Is there a collective identity between Sweden and Finland? : A narrative comparison s of the countries NATO- proposals
No full textFinland var under flera århundraden en del av Sverige vilket har etablerat en historisk koppling mellan länderna. Denna gemensamma historia har lämnat bestående avtryck, bland annat i form av Finlands nationalspråk, likheter i kulturella uttryck samt i politiska och administrativa strukturer. Syftet med denna studie är att jämföra de narrativ som framträder i Sveriges respektive Finlands propositioner om medlemskap i NATO, med avsikten att undersöka huruvida det existerar en gemensam nationell identitet mellan de två staterna. Den huvudsakliga forskningsfrågan är: Finns en gemensam identitet mellan Sverige och Finland? Studien utgår från antagandet att Sverige och Finland i viss mån närmar sig en gemensam identitet, men att Finlands geografiska närhet till Ryssland och dess historiska erfarenheter påverkar narrativets utformning och medför skillnader. Det föreligger en kunskapslucka inom forskningen gällande narrativanalys av hur länder formulerar sina säkerhetspolitiska ståndpunkter och historiska erfarenheter i samband med utrikespolitiska vägval, såsom NATO-ansökan. Denna uppsats syftar därmed till att, genom en deskriptiv komparativ studie som analyserar narrativet, belysa hur nationella berättelser konstruerar och förmedlar kollektiv identitet i ett säkerhetspolitiskt sammanhang. Analysen, baserad på officiella styrdokument och rapporter från respektive land, visar att Sverige och Finland, trots tydliga likheter, inte uppvisar en fullt delad identitet. Den mest framträdande skillnaden ligger i att det finska narrativet i högre grad anknyter till historiska erfarenheter och beskriver medlemskapet som en omedelbar säkerhetspolitisk nödvändighet, medan det svenska narrativet främst betonar fördjupning av försvarssamarbete och strategisk integration med västliga partners.For centuries Finland was part of Sweden, which established a historical link between the countries. This common history has left lasting impressions, including the national language of Finland, similarities in cultural expressions and in political and administrative structures. The purpose of this study is to compare the narratives that emerge in Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership proposals, with the intention of investigating whether there is a common national identity between the two states. The main research question is: Is there a common identity between Sweden and Finland? The study is based on the hypothesis that Sweden and Finland are to some extent approaching a common identity, but that Finland's geographical closeness to Russia and its historical experiences affect the shaping of the narrative and entail differences. There is a knowledge gap in research on narrative analysis of how countries formulate their security policy positions and historical experiences in connection with foreign policy choices, such as NATO application. This paper therefore aims to shed light on, through a descriptive comparative study analysis the narrative, how national narratives construct and convey collective identity in a security policy context. The analysis, based on official policy documents and reports from each country, shows that Sweden and Finland, despite many similarities, do not exhibit a fully shared identity. The most prominent difference lies in the fact that the Finnish narrative relies more on historical experiences and describes membership as an immediate security policy necessity, while the Swedish narrative mainly emphasizes deepening defense cooperation and strategic integration with Western partners
Operationalisation of the principle of proportionality to siege warfare
No full textThroughout history, sieges of cities and densely populated areas have played a key role in military operations. Despite its prevalence as a method of warfare, the Law of Armed Conflict does not provide a definition of siege, nor does it determine whether it constitutes a lawful method of warfare or qualifies as an attack. Within this legal framework, tension arises between the military advantages of sieges and humanitarian considerations when civilians are present in the besieged area. In this sense, this thesis seeks to ascertain in which manner should the principle of proportionality be applied to sieges
Ledarskap och resiliens i humanitära kriser : En utforskning av ledarskapets påverkan på anställdas resiliens i humanitära kriser
No full textHumanitarian crises constitute a complex and demanding work environment in which leadership plays a crucial role in supporting employees’ wellbeing and work performance. Despite this, there is limited research on how leadership in practice contributes to strengthening employee resilience within humanitarian crisis contexts. This study aims to explore how leadership behaviours influence staff resilience, with a particular focus on understanding the perspectives of those in leadership roles. Using a qualitative research design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with leaders in an international humanitarian organisation and analysed using thematic analysis. The findings highlight the importance of prioritising communication, demonstrating stability through actions, motivating the team, and advocating for the team within the organisation. These leadership behaviours were perceived to enhance employees’ ability to cope with stress and adversity in high-pressure crisis situations. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of how leaders experience their role in supporting staff under challenging conditions. Humanitära kriser utgör en komplex och krävande arbetsmiljö där ledarskap spelar en avgörande roll för att stödja medarbetares välmående och arbetsförmåga. Trots detta finns det begränsad forskning om hur ledarskap i praktiken bidrar till att stärka medarbetares resiliens i humanitära kriskontexter. Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur ledarskapsbeteenden påverkar medarbetares resiliens, med särskilt fokus på att förstå ledarnas egna perspektiv. Studien baseras på en kvalitativ forskningsdesign, där data samlades in genom semistrukturerade intervjuer med ledare inom en internationell humanitär organisation och analyserades med tematisk analys. Resultaten belyser vikten av att prioritera kommunikation, agera stabilt genom handling, motivera teamet samt föra medarbetarnas talan inom organisationen. Dessa ledarskapsbeteenden uppfattades som stärkande för medarbetares förmåga att hantera stress och motgångar i pressade krissituationer. Studien bidrar med fördjupad förståelse för hur ledare upplever sitt ansvar att stödja personal under utmanande förhållanden.
Ryssland och långräckviddiga vapensystem : Ett strategiskt vapensystem under utveckling eller taktiskt stöd till markförband?
No full textThis study investigates how Russia has employed long range strike systems for strategic purposes between 2008 and 2022. Analyzing three conflicts in that timespan the study identifies changes in the use of those systems. Using Warden´s theory for air power as an analytic framework enhance the understanding of the results. The analysis focuses on three dimensions: strategic targeting, parallel operations and platform/weapon usage. The final step was to analyze the findings all together to see the development over time. Some of the available data was inconclusive and the context of the conflict might influence the conclusions, but the result is clear. The findings suggest a major evolution in Russia´s capability and willingness to use long range systems for strategic purposes. They are using a more strategic approach, but the results from Ukraine shows that they still have some challenges to solve until they reach full strategic capabilities. The study also highlights the role of reforms and technological advancements in Russian air warfare