Who’s going to take care of our kids?: Swedish officers’ sensemaking of dual responsibilities in war
2026 (English) Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 20 credits / 30 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
Amid Europe's ongoing war and threat of expansion, Sweden has refocused on national defence. Uncertainty remains about how children, especially of dual-military parents, will be cared for during war. These parents face emotional conflict between their duties as military members and their responsibilities to their children. This thesis examines how Swedish dual-military parents interpret these conflicts through semi-structured interviews and draws on thematic analysis, sensemaking theory, and concepts of loyalty and institutions. It finds that officers are concerned about their children's care but are willing to serve to secure their children’s future or to support Sweden's defence, due to their private support systems. However, this readiness is not unconditional, as children’s wellbeing has priority. The care of the children is thus a precondition for our national defence.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages 2026. , p. 53
Keywords [en]
Sensemaking, dual-military parents, childcare, care, loyalty, institution, readiness
National Category
War, Crisis, and Security Studies
Identifiers URN: urn:nbn:se:fhs:diva-15011 OAI: oai:DiVA.org:fhs-15011 DiVA, id: diva2:2086487
Subject / course War Studies, Thesis
Educational program Master's Programme in War and Defence
Presentation
2026-06-12, 13:14 (English)
Uppsok Social and Behavioural Science, Law
Supervisors
Examiners
2026-08-102026-07-142026-08-10 Bibliographically approved