This thesis investigates militarization in Sweden through a previously unknown position within the Swedish Civil defense organization, “civil commander” (civilbefälhavare). It will shed light on the factors behind why the militarily neutral country created this rather unique position, how it changed during the mere fifty years in service, and why it was ultimately decommissioned. This paper will also explore what the civil commander can reveal about the level of militarization, and possibly militarism, in Sweden during the period. Through examination of the greater civil defense organizational structure, and fundamental changes in warfare and by drawing upon state produced documents, bills, laws and regulations, it will construct a deeper understanding of the civil commander role. Theoretical concepts such as militarization, militarism, and civil-military relations will consequently be explored and are instrumental for the militarization theory molded by this thesis. Militarism evolved and persisted in modern societies and in light of the looming fear of new total and frontless wars. Sweden couldn’t from 1945 militarize itself at the level deemed needed by civil and military without increasing the risk of becoming a militaristic society – more specifically a Lasswellian garrison state. Aware of the problem connected to an ever-growing military, the civil society went to great lengths to militarize itself to enable interaction with the military with the aim to protect civil institutions from being dominated or taken over by the military in case of heightened preparedness or war. Instrumental was the civil commander-institution, which worked as a bulkhead between the civil and military sphere in a time where these became increasingly entangled and inseparable, and which ensured civilian control over civilian administration. Through the civil-commander, the civil sphere obtained a military-style efficiency and the ability to make quick decisions separately from, or together on equal terms with, their camouflaged counterparts. The civil commander can both be understood as an indication of total militarization of civil society and protection against military influence, militarism, and a militaristic society.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:umu-218272 |
| Date | January 2023 |
| Creators | Christopherson, Victor |
| Publisher | Umeå universitet, Institutionen för idé- och samhällsstudier |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | Swedish |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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