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A defence perspective on the role of logistics in crisis preparedness
Swedish Defence University, Department of War Studies, Functions and Perspective Division.ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8972-7975
2025 (English)In: Artikelsamling - Forsknings- och tillämpningskonferens, Lunds tekniska högskola, Lund, 22–23 oktober, 2025 / [ed] PLAN / Lunds tekniska högskola, Lund, 2025, p. 253-268Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
Abstract [en]

In an era of escalating geopolitical tensions and hybrid threats, logistics has emerged as a decisive pillar of national crisis preparedness. This paper examines the role of logistics within Sweden’s total defence framework, situating it within the broader literature on critical infrastructure resilience and drawing comparative lessons from Ukraine’s wartime experience. Using a qualitative case study design that combines critical event analysis with comparative institutional analysis, the study scrutinises key dimensions of Swedish logistics, including vehicle and driver availability, fuel distribution and stockpiling, infrastructure robustness, and civil–military coordination. The findings reveal three interrelated weaknesses in Sweden’s logistical preparedness: fragmented planning structures, personnel and fleet vulnerabilities, and inadequate strategic reserves. These weaknesses risk turning logistics into a single point of failure during prolonged crises or high-intensity conflict. Insights from Ukraine underscore that logistics is not merely a support function but a strategic capability: sustained disruption can paralyse both military manoeuvres and civilian survival. The paper argues that Sweden must adopt a preparedness-oriented logistics strategy, encompassing expanded stockpiling, stronger legal frameworks for civilian resource mobilisation, investments in dual-use and redundant infrastructure, and deeper civil–military integration. By reframing logistics as a strategic enabler of deterrence and resilience, the study contributes to understanding how modern states can secure societal continuity under conditions of systemic stress.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Lund, 2025. p. 253-268
Keywords [en]
Defence logistics, Crisis preparedness, Total defence, Supply Chain Security, Critical infrastructure Resilience, Civil–military coordination
National Category
Other Social Sciences
Research subject
War Studies
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:fhs:diva-14165OAI: oai:DiVA.org:fhs-14165DiVA, id: diva2:2008785
Conference
PLAN Forsknings- och tillämpningskonferens, oktober 22-23, 2025, Lund, Sverige
Funder
Swedish Armed ForcesAvailable from: 2025-10-24 Created: 2025-10-24 Last updated: 2025-10-29Bibliographically approved

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CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

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Citation style
  • apa
  • harvard-cite-them-right
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
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  • Other style
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Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
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  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
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