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Regional matters

Nilsson, Gustav LU (2018) SIMV07 20181
Department of Political Science
Education
Master of Science in Global Studies
Graduate School
Abstract
Since 2014, the Baltic Sea Region has experienced a sharp deterioration with regard to the security relations present within it. In reaction to a security environment increasingly characterised by military unpredictability the orientation of Swedish defence and security policy in the last decade has seen the country going from a de- to a re-militarisation. On the assumption that no nation’s security is self-contained, this thesis analyses the Swedish outlook on security within the framework of Regional Security Complex Theory, examining its relation to, and cooperative interests within the Baltic Sea Region. A qualitative content analysis is conducted to study the policy line, as formulated in the 2009 and 2015 defence bills, and the... (More)
Since 2014, the Baltic Sea Region has experienced a sharp deterioration with regard to the security relations present within it. In reaction to a security environment increasingly characterised by military unpredictability the orientation of Swedish defence and security policy in the last decade has seen the country going from a de- to a re-militarisation. On the assumption that no nation’s security is self-contained, this thesis analyses the Swedish outlook on security within the framework of Regional Security Complex Theory, examining its relation to, and cooperative interests within the Baltic Sea Region. A qualitative content analysis is conducted to study the policy line, as formulated in the 2009 and 2015 defence bills, and the regional security analysis seeks to address the underpinning security dynamics in effect, shaping the development of the policy.
The findings of the analysis suggest that the Swedish defence and security policy is shaped in relation to patterns of amity through increased cooperative endeavours, primarily with the Nordic and Baltic partners. The assertive behaviour of Russia exposed the undermined Swedish Armed Forces, and consequently made Sweden conceive of Russia as a structural threat. With Russia’s unpredictable influence in the region follows amplified patterns of enmity. (Less)
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author
Nilsson, Gustav LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
Changing security dynamics in the Baltic Sea Region: a case study of the course of Swedish defence and security policy, 2008-2018
course
SIMV07 20181
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Sweden, Baltic Sea Region, Regional Security Complex Theory, Copenhagen School, Securitisation
language
English
id
8957531
date added to LUP
2018-09-07 12:45:46
date last changed
2018-09-07 12:45:46
@misc{8957531,
  abstract     = {{Since 2014, the Baltic Sea Region has experienced a sharp deterioration with regard to the security relations present within it. In reaction to a security environment increasingly characterised by military unpredictability the orientation of Swedish defence and security policy in the last decade has seen the country going from a de- to a re-militarisation. On the assumption that no nation’s security is self-contained, this thesis analyses the Swedish outlook on security within the framework of Regional Security Complex Theory, examining its relation to, and cooperative interests within the Baltic Sea Region. A qualitative content analysis is conducted to study the policy line, as formulated in the 2009 and 2015 defence bills, and the regional security analysis seeks to address the underpinning security dynamics in effect, shaping the development of the policy.
The findings of the analysis suggest that the Swedish defence and security policy is shaped in relation to patterns of amity through increased cooperative endeavours, primarily with the Nordic and Baltic partners. The assertive behaviour of Russia exposed the undermined Swedish Armed Forces, and consequently made Sweden conceive of Russia as a structural threat. With Russia’s unpredictable influence in the region follows amplified patterns of enmity.}},
  author       = {{Nilsson, Gustav}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Regional matters}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}