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This Thesis investigates how Swedish Armed Forces (SAF) veterans perceived the public debate concerning their international deployments. Building on a concept of social interaction and perception theories, it highlights the existence of frame disputes. Consequently, within the field of War Studies, a sociological micro-level of the individual sense-making is centred. A qualitative inquiry involving narrative in-depth interviews with seven SAF veterans was conducted. Due to qualitative content analysis, it became evident that the veterans perceived the public debate as non-existent. Accordingly, frame disputes were discovered on three different levels. Firstly, these disputes grew complex as veterans contrasted their mission meanings with governmental strategies. Secondly, this was further reflected in indifferent support and a lack of empathy from the Swedish population. Lastly, veterans struggled with emotional openness within military culture and the SAF's psychological support systems. 

The discussion highlights that participatory powerlessness and passivity in international coalitions hinder the Swedish government’s ability to credibly enforce its political goals in crisis areas. This difficulty affects veterans’ ability to reconcile their identities with Swedish society. Consequently, emotional openness regarding frame disputes in family and friend circles has diminished, leading to social alienation among soldiers and limiting emotional conflicts to military peers. However, surveys indicate that the post-deployment psychological assistance is inadequate to effectively address these frame disputes, giving rise to moral injuries. To prevent these issues, a constructive and meaningful debate about the political goals, societal values, military culture, and the state's role needs to be established within Swedish society for future SAF missions overseas. Hence, politics and the SAF’s military culture must address how to provide soldiers with a sense of purpose while developing strategies for military success.