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Role Conceptions in Sweden’s Foreign Policy: A Textual Analysis of the China-strategy

Eriksson, Emma LU (2022) STVK02 20221
Department of Political Science
Abstract
Research on Sweden’s foreign policy often highlights its exceptionalism regarding activism and value promotion. Yet, I detect a less idealistic side in its foreign policy towards China, characterized by a protection of national interests. In addition, contemporary trends of liberalization suggest an entirely different dimension as well. This paper seeks to better understand Sweden’s foreign policy through a case study of its China-strategy using role theory. It asks: Are there more than one role conception performed in Sweden’s China-strategy? If yes, which ones? With this purpose, the paper uses qualitative content analysis to test a hypothesis consisting of three role conceptions. The variety of the type of indicators identified in the... (More)
Research on Sweden’s foreign policy often highlights its exceptionalism regarding activism and value promotion. Yet, I detect a less idealistic side in its foreign policy towards China, characterized by a protection of national interests. In addition, contemporary trends of liberalization suggest an entirely different dimension as well. This paper seeks to better understand Sweden’s foreign policy through a case study of its China-strategy using role theory. It asks: Are there more than one role conception performed in Sweden’s China-strategy? If yes, which ones? With this purpose, the paper uses qualitative content analysis to test a hypothesis consisting of three role conceptions. The variety of the type of indicators identified in the material allows me to draw a conclusion that yes, there are at least three role conceptions. One of them being the promoter of national interests, a role I not documented in previous research. I call this Sweden’s missing role and discuss possible explanations found in role theory. Further, I argue that co-existing roles causes issues for the implementation of foreign policy. One being the potential decline of Swedish exceptionalism in foreign policy. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Eriksson, Emma LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVK02 20221
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Role Theory, Foreign Policy Analysis, Sweden’s Foreign Policy, Sweden-China, Qualitative Content Analysis.
language
English
id
9080299
date added to LUP
2022-07-03 08:08:35
date last changed
2022-07-03 08:08:35
@misc{9080299,
  abstract     = {{Research on Sweden’s foreign policy often highlights its exceptionalism regarding activism and value promotion. Yet, I detect a less idealistic side in its foreign policy towards China, characterized by a protection of national interests. In addition, contemporary trends of liberalization suggest an entirely different dimension as well. This paper seeks to better understand Sweden’s foreign policy through a case study of its China-strategy using role theory. It asks: Are there more than one role conception performed in Sweden’s China-strategy? If yes, which ones? With this purpose, the paper uses qualitative content analysis to test a hypothesis consisting of three role conceptions. The variety of the type of indicators identified in the material allows me to draw a conclusion that yes, there are at least three role conceptions. One of them being the promoter of national interests, a role I not documented in previous research. I call this Sweden’s missing role and discuss possible explanations found in role theory. Further, I argue that co-existing roles causes issues for the implementation of foreign policy. One being the potential decline of Swedish exceptionalism in foreign policy.}},
  author       = {{Eriksson, Emma}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Role Conceptions in Sweden’s Foreign Policy: A Textual Analysis of the China-strategy}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}