Logo: to the web site of the Swedish Defence University

When Barry Buzan discusses four models of possible nation-state link, he discusses as model one, the primal nation-state, exemplified by Hungary and other nations . According to this model the nation precedes the state and the state’s main purpose is to protect and express the nation. This study covers mostly the nation-state, Sweden, how politics appear on the agenda, how the National Strategy is formed, and how the use of military power affects the “Room for Manoeuvre”. By selecting Politics, Strategy and Military Power as independent variables and "Room for Manoevre" as the dependent variable, I have used a method that allows me to discuss how the interaction between these variables occurs, and how these variables affects the "Room for Manoeuvre".An important aspect of this study, is the discussion about the political “Room for Manoeuvre”. In this “Room”, the designations Windows of Opportunity and Governmental Freedom to Act, appears. Sometimes the Government will have full freedom, limited freedom or no freedom at all to act, depending on internal forces within its own nation or external forces in the more distant surroundings.The study shows that the “Room for Manoeuvre” is continuously under pressure from individuals, organisations, and special interest groups in all layers of the society. The dramatic changes in respect to both world-wide and European security, will also affect the size of the governmental “Room for Manoeuvre”.As mentioned, since use of military power is an important tool in respect to foreign policy, the complexity in using the military power is the main subject throughout this study. The military capacity is divided into two parts, the doctrinal part and the substantial part (miltary "software" and "hardware"). Military capasity is analysed in respect to the whole spectre of military tasks, from a fully existential war to Peace Support Operations.The conclusions shows that use of military forces, which are not prepared, trained or designed to meet the political objectives, will lead to a worse situation not only for the military force itself, but also for the goevernmental   "Room for Manoeuvre”. Therefore, Sweden needs to analyse what kind of tasks its Armed Forces  should cover. It is possible to meet the whole spectre of tasks, but such a policy and strategy will in most cases probably cost more money than the Swedish Government is willing to provide.