The Arctic Front : A study using the Securitization Theory to analyse in which way the Arctic region is perceived a security and defence concern within Swedish Arctic discourse

• Main Author: Risfelt, Linnéa
• Format: Bachelor Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Försvarshögskolan 2024
• Subjects: The Arctic; Arctic region; Securitization Theory; Sweden; Swedish state discourse; Arctic discourse; WPR-framework; climate change; military dynamic; Swedish surrounding; Swedish vicinity; Other Social Sciences not elsewhere specified; Övrig annan samhällsvetenskap; Arctic; Climate change; Northern Sweden
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:fhs:diva-12340

The Arctic region is a region defined by change. Climate change, militarization and a growing interest from both Arctic and non-Arctic states are increasing the geopolitical significance for the region. As a consequence, concerns about the Arctic region's security and what threat the region might constitute have grown. The following thesis seeks to study in which way the Arctic region is perceived as a security and defence concern by the Swedish government and state agencies in Swedish state discourse from first of January 2019 to the 19th of June 2023. By using arguments from the Copenhagen schools Securitization Theory, the thesis aims to understand to what extent the Swedish state discourse has securitized the Arctic region and what and/or who the is presented as security issues and defence threats. The findings argue that the Swedish Arctic discourse does not securitize the Arctic region, however, patterns of securitization could be found which indicate that the region might be securitized in the future. The Swedish Arctic discourse recognise several security issues and defence threats and present cooperation with other states as well as strengthen military capabilities in northern Sweden as countermeasures. This further indicates that the Swedish Arctic discourse recognise security and defence concerns connected to the Arctic region even if they are not presented by the terms of securitization.Â