Det nya totalförsvarets diskurs : Analys av motiv och drivkrafter utifrån teorin om ontologisk säkerhet

Does actors desire something more than survival in international politics? The Swedish neutrality politics that was developed during the Cold war can be described as a part of a national self-image, a type of political identity which constituted Sweden´s narrative nationally and internationally. The political identity commenced a change during 2009 with the solidarity politics, an adaption to the changed situation in the Baltic Sea as well as in Europe. The defence policy for Sweden 2016-2020 describes that a new Total defence with a strengthened defence economy is needed to face this situation. The traditional concepts of security within international relations usually derives from the survival of the actors and the interests that this entails. Theories about ontological security argues instead that the purpose of an actor´s actions aims to maintain its self-identity needs. Ontological security can therefore be used to understand the underlying motives and drives that causes policy changes such as defence policies. This study shows that the motives and drives behind the new Swedish Total defence according to Brent J. Steels perspective on ontological security can be understood as a will to uphold Sweden´s ontological security. The drives for Sweden´s actions can be described as a will to maintain the continuity in the biographical narrative as a sovereign, democratic and solidarity actor both nationally and internationally. The motives behind the decision-making processes are formed by the Swedish identity as a strong advocate of human rights and conflict prevention and war. Certain discrepancies can be understood in the chosen empiricism and Swedish action regarding shortcomings in the long-term material supply, defence economy and personnel supply within the total defence. This can be interpreted as potential threats towards the Swedish ontological security