For over 200 years Sweden did not engage in any military alliances. This changed rapidly in May of 2022 when Sweden in May applied for membership in NATO, changing direction in only a few months. This essay seeks to understand this rapid change by analysing the decision through a theory consuming one case study.
Hermann’s theory of foreign policy change and Walt’s theory of alliances are made into three analytical tools. The tools are used to analyse, how the membership changes security policy, who or what was the source of change and why it came to be. Politicians´ arguments during the process and official documents were examined to answer these questions.
The results show that the membership application is primarily a shift in security policy methods and an increase of funding. It also shows that the external shocks, the invasion of Ukraine and Finland’s NATO application was the primary source of change. Lastly it indicates that the application could be a case of balancing against an external threat.