Factors influencing Sweden's changing stance on neutrality

Sweden’s position on neutrality has changed over the past 25 years. This evolution has been prompted and supported by a variety of domestic and international events, and the way in which the political elites responded to each event. These events started with the Swedish financial crisis in the late 1980s, and continued with the collapse of the Soviet Union and Sweden’s entrance into the European Union (EU). International crises, such as the Kosovo war and the September 11th terrorist attacks, have also impacted the concept and role of Swedish neutrality. Swedish neutrality was more than simply a philosophy on which the foreign and defense policies were built, it was also an integral part of the Swedish national identity. In order to understand how and why Swedish neutrality has evolved, various contributing layers were explored. For this reason, this research examined the definition of neutrality, how neutrality became a component of Swedish national identity, themes pertaining to the Swedish political process, important election issues, political parties, and voting trends before exploring contributing domestic and international factors. After the foundational background was established, in-depth investigation and analysis identified the most significant domestic and international events and pressures that ultimately influenced Sweden’s changing stance on neutrality.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

European Union Studies

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Bassett, Bergen

Contributors dc:contributor

• Pahre, Robert D.
• Rosenstein, Matthew

• Sweden
• Swedish
• Neutrality
• Neutral
• Foreign Policy
• Security

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2012 Bergen Bassett

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/34336

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/34336