Identity in the making - A study of the construction of Swedish state identity in relation to climate action through official national statements
(2026) MRSM15 20261Human Rights Studies
- Abstract
- This study examines the construction of Swedish state identity through official national statements from international climate and environmental conferences in 1972 and 1992, as well as statements delivered between 1995 and 2025. It builds on the understanding that states construct their state identity through autobiographical narratives. The material is analysed through a positioning method to capture the process by which state identity is constructed. The method consists of three levels articulated in three positioning questions. The analysis is informed by ontological security theory, which holds that states strive to act in ways that conform to their state identity. The study suggests that Sweden constructs its state identity as an... (More)
- This study examines the construction of Swedish state identity through official national statements from international climate and environmental conferences in 1972 and 1992, as well as statements delivered between 1995 and 2025. It builds on the understanding that states construct their state identity through autobiographical narratives. The material is analysed through a positioning method to capture the process by which state identity is constructed. The method consists of three levels articulated in three positioning questions. The analysis is informed by ontological security theory, which holds that states strive to act in ways that conform to their state identity. The study suggests that Sweden constructs its state identity as an industrialised state with agency. Sweden is further constructed as a state that acts proactively and prompts others to act, assuming the role of a leader. In addition, Swedish state identity is constructed as part of a wider international sphere. Positioning within discourses constructs Swedish state identity as a committed and ambitious actor in relation to climate action, and as a state that acts in accordance with the ideals of sustainable development. The study demonstrates that Swedish state identity develops over time through positive progress to maintain its ontological security and shows that identity construction is closely related to ontological security. The study concludes with a discussion of the potential for future research on state identity. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9250125
- author
- Johansson, Maja LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- MRSM15 20261
- year
- 2026
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- State identity, climate action, Conference of the Parties, construction, autobiographical narratives, ontological security, positioning
- language
- English
- id
- 9250125
- date added to LUP
- 2026-09-09 13:46:58
- date last changed
- 2026-09-09 13:46:58
@misc{9250125,
abstract = {{This study examines the construction of Swedish state identity through official national statements from international climate and environmental conferences in 1972 and 1992, as well as statements delivered between 1995 and 2025. It builds on the understanding that states construct their state identity through autobiographical narratives. The material is analysed through a positioning method to capture the process by which state identity is constructed. The method consists of three levels articulated in three positioning questions. The analysis is informed by ontological security theory, which holds that states strive to act in ways that conform to their state identity. The study suggests that Sweden constructs its state identity as an industrialised state with agency. Sweden is further constructed as a state that acts proactively and prompts others to act, assuming the role of a leader. In addition, Swedish state identity is constructed as part of a wider international sphere. Positioning within discourses constructs Swedish state identity as a committed and ambitious actor in relation to climate action, and as a state that acts in accordance with the ideals of sustainable development. The study demonstrates that Swedish state identity develops over time through positive progress to maintain its ontological security and shows that identity construction is closely related to ontological security. The study concludes with a discussion of the potential for future research on state identity.}},
author = {{Johansson, Maja}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Identity in the making - A study of the construction of Swedish state identity in relation to climate action through official national statements}},
year = {{2026}},
}