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Identitet under omprövning: En kvalitativ studie av strategiska narrativ och ontologisk säkerhet i Försvarsmaktens soldatmanualer

Humal, Laureen LU (2025) FKVK02 20251
Department of Political Science
Abstract
Sweden’s security policy has shifted significantly in recent years, prompting new ways of legitimizing military engagement. This study explores how the Swedish Armed Forces use language and narrative to manage this transformation by analysing two editions of their “soldier manuals” from 2005 and 2023. Drawing on theories of strategic narratives and ontological security, the study examines how these manuals help shape collective identity, legimize defence practices, and provide continuity during geopolitical change. Using qualitative narrative analysis, the manuals are seen as not only instructional texts but also as communicative tools reflecting national self-understanding. Despite major changes in Sweden’s international role, the... (More)
Sweden’s security policy has shifted significantly in recent years, prompting new ways of legitimizing military engagement. This study explores how the Swedish Armed Forces use language and narrative to manage this transformation by analysing two editions of their “soldier manuals” from 2005 and 2023. Drawing on theories of strategic narratives and ontological security, the study examines how these manuals help shape collective identity, legimize defence practices, and provide continuity during geopolitical change. Using qualitative narrative analysis, the manuals are seen as not only instructional texts but also as communicative tools reflecting national self-understanding. Despite major changes in Sweden’s international role, the analysis shows that strategic narratives remain anchored in long-standing values such as responsibility and solidarity. This discursive continuity supports identity stability amid strategic transformation. The findings highlight how narrative and language are central to legitimizing defence policy and producing ontological security in uncertain times. By focusing on meaning-making rather than material power, the study contributes to research viewing security policy as a socially constructed and communicative practice. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Humal, Laureen LU
supervisor
organization
course
FKVK02 20251
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
strategiska narrativ, ontologisk säkerhet, Försvarsmakten, soldatmanual, nationell identitet, säkerhetspolitik.
language
Swedish
id
9191173
date added to LUP
2025-08-08 11:23:11
date last changed
2025-08-08 11:23:11
@misc{9191173,
  abstract     = {{Sweden’s security policy has shifted significantly in recent years, prompting new ways of legitimizing military engagement. This study explores how the Swedish Armed Forces use language and narrative to manage this transformation by analysing two editions of their “soldier manuals” from 2005 and 2023. Drawing on theories of strategic narratives and ontological security, the study examines how these manuals help shape collective identity, legimize defence practices, and provide continuity during geopolitical change. Using qualitative narrative analysis, the manuals are seen as not only instructional texts but also as communicative tools reflecting national self-understanding. Despite major changes in Sweden’s international role, the analysis shows that strategic narratives remain anchored in long-standing values such as responsibility and solidarity. This discursive continuity supports identity stability amid strategic transformation. The findings highlight how narrative and language are central to legitimizing defence policy and producing ontological security in uncertain times. By focusing on meaning-making rather than material power, the study contributes to research viewing security policy as a socially constructed and communicative practice.}},
  author       = {{Humal, Laureen}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Identitet under omprövning: En kvalitativ studie av strategiska narrativ och ontologisk säkerhet i Försvarsmaktens soldatmanualer}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}