Logo: to the web site of the Swedish Defence University

This study investigates the contemporary Swedish deterrence strategy through a qualitative text analysis. Since the 1950s and onwards Sweden has adopted deterrence strategy in different size and shape, adapted to the different challenges of its respective time, as part of its defense and security policy.

To continue former research on the area this study aims to research the current deterrence strategy and to observe whether a new model of deterrence strategy is evolving or not.

The study concludes that Sweden is still leaning towards deterrence strategy as part of its security policy. In many ways, the strategy of today resembles the strategy that operated during the Cold War. A time when the civilian part of the total defence structure along with a deterrence strategy based on denial played a crucial role for the resilience. Sweden trusted their neutrality policy during the Cold War, however, that is not the case today. Today, Swedish politicians proclaim that security is best created together with other nations. Even though the politicians trust that security is best created together with others, Sweden has continued to stay out of binding military agreements, binding agreements that radically would increase the credibility of the extended deterrence Sweden aims to achieve.