Previous research argues that strategic culture is mainly manifested by continuity. Studies on Swedish strategic culture either describe constant evolutionary change or observe change in the passing while explaining Swedish strategic behaviour, but with some shortcomings in defining central concepts and mechanisms of cultural change.
This study uses a constructivist approach defining strategic culture as a socially constructed context with competing subcultures whose elites both act to preserve and change cultural traits.
Using a case study design with discourse analysis, the sedimentation of discursive expressions is assessed to uncover change in Swedish strategic culture during the period 2008 to 2022 while Russian use of military power in provocation and aggression in the vicinity of Sweden increases.
The study argues that predominant cultural traits in Swedish strategic culture has changed between 2008 and 2022, but not all, and that these changes has facilitated the act of applying for NATO membership.