Det säkra Sverige? : En idealtypsanalys av Moderaternas syn på ett svenskt Natomedlemskap utifrån ett realistiskt respektive liberalt perspektiv

The aim of this study was to analyze how realism and liberalism are represented in requests concerning the question about a Swedish membership in Nato written by members of the Swedish Moderate Party in 2010, 2013, 2015 and 2017 respectively. The time period was chose due to Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, which created a higher threat level in areas that are in close proximity of Sweden and which makes the debate about a Swedish membership in Nato very topical. To be able to answer the aim of this study, ideal type analysis was used as the method. Analyzing the occurrence of realism and liberalism within three political issues: security, collaboration and international organizations. The results show that the realistic and the liberal ideal type could be identified in requests concerning collaboration. However, within the political issues of security and international organizations only the liberal ideal type could be identified. Hence, there was not possible to identify any ideological change between realism and liberalism. In seven occasions none of the ideal types could be identified. Considering that the study included some eventful years, the result of no ideological changes are to be seen as fairly unexpected