Worth defending? Exploring the role of democratic values in Sweden’s military strategic communication
Karlsson, Isabelle LU
and Cassinger, Cecilia
LU
(2025)
BUP Symposium (The Baltic University Programme)
- Abstract
- This paper aims to enhance our understanding of how strategic communication mobilise democratic values and ideals, which civil society is expected to support. Drawing on discourse theory, the paper conceptualises strategic communication as a process that unites various publics. This paper argues that these publics are largely imagined and constructed through communication. It also asserts that the 'defence-worthiness' of values is constructed through communication. Adopting a narrative approach, the study illustrates how and which values are mobilised in military strategic communication. Focusing on gender equality — a core value of Swedish democracy — the study analyses how this value is framed as a national ideal worth defending while... (More)
- This paper aims to enhance our understanding of how strategic communication mobilise democratic values and ideals, which civil society is expected to support. Drawing on discourse theory, the paper conceptualises strategic communication as a process that unites various publics. This paper argues that these publics are largely imagined and constructed through communication. It also asserts that the 'defence-worthiness' of values is constructed through communication. Adopting a narrative approach, the study illustrates how and which values are mobilised in military strategic communication. Focusing on gender equality — a core value of Swedish democracy — the study analyses how this value is framed as a national ideal worth defending while creating civil society publics with whom it may resonate. A discourse analysis of strategic communication materials from the Swedish Armed Forces, collected over seven years, is conducted with a particular focus on which publics are included or excluded. Shifts in narratives surrounding certain incidents will also be examined, such as Sweden’s entry into NATO in 2024. Initial findings suggest the normalisation of women in the military, the intersection of militarisation and commodification, and the use of gender equality as a strategic position. Ultimately, the paper argues that gender equality acts as a placeholder for democratic ideals while remaining an empty signifier. It discusses how values can form connections between civil society, democratic ideals, and military organisations. Thus, it highlights the complexity of strategic communication and demonstrates how it can be perceived as va (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/3e870350-c922-4eb1-8ff9-f68721fdbfc1
- author
- Karlsson, Isabelle
LU
and Cassinger, Cecilia
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025
- type
- Contribution to conference
- publication status
- unpublished
- subject
- keywords
- Strategic Communication, gender, democratic resilience, Swedish armed forces, prescription
- conference name
- BUP Symposium (The Baltic University Programme)
- conference location
- Uppsala, Sweden
- conference dates
- 2025-11-26 - 2025-11-28
- project
- Communication, Defense Willingness and Democratic Resilience
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 3e870350-c922-4eb1-8ff9-f68721fdbfc1
- date added to LUP
- 2025-12-12 14:26:01
- date last changed
- 2025-12-15 16:10:01
@misc{3e870350-c922-4eb1-8ff9-f68721fdbfc1,
abstract = {{This paper aims to enhance our understanding of how strategic communication mobilise democratic values and ideals, which civil society is expected to support. Drawing on discourse theory, the paper conceptualises strategic communication as a process that unites various publics. This paper argues that these publics are largely imagined and constructed through communication. It also asserts that the 'defence-worthiness' of values is constructed through communication. Adopting a narrative approach, the study illustrates how and which values are mobilised in military strategic communication. Focusing on gender equality — a core value of Swedish democracy — the study analyses how this value is framed as a national ideal worth defending while creating civil society publics with whom it may resonate. A discourse analysis of strategic communication materials from the Swedish Armed Forces, collected over seven years, is conducted with a particular focus on which publics are included or excluded. Shifts in narratives surrounding certain incidents will also be examined, such as Sweden’s entry into NATO in 2024. Initial findings suggest the normalisation of women in the military, the intersection of militarisation and commodification, and the use of gender equality as a strategic position. Ultimately, the paper argues that gender equality acts as a placeholder for democratic ideals while remaining an empty signifier. It discusses how values can form connections between civil society, democratic ideals, and military organisations. Thus, it highlights the complexity of strategic communication and demonstrates how it can be perceived as va}},
author = {{Karlsson, Isabelle and Cassinger, Cecilia}},
keywords = {{Strategic Communication, gender, democratic resilience, Swedish armed forces, prescription}},
language = {{eng}},
title = {{Worth defending? Exploring the role of democratic values in Sweden’s military strategic communication}},
year = {{2025}},
}