Att söka status i en föränderlig värld- En kvalitativ textanalys av Sveriges utrikespolitiska narrativ från EU till NATO

Abstract

Swedish foreign policy is usually analyzed through perspectives of security adaptations or role theory. Status-seeking, however, has received less attention as an independent explanatory framework. This study aims to complement previous perspectives by focusing on how decision-makers formulate and express the Swedish national self-image, its ambitions and goals as well as Sweden's relations to relevant others with the intention of reaching recognition from other international actors. Through a qualitative text analysis of the related Swedish foreign policy declarations the study describes, compares and analyzes how status-seeking is expressed by decision makers at central foreign policy turning points. The issues analyzed are the EU entry, the feminist foreign policy and the NATO entry. Social identity theory applied to international relations creates three strategies in which states can seek to heighten or maintain their social position in the international hierarchies: social mobility, social competition and social creativity. These strategies will form the -types used to analyse the material. The results show that the status-seeking strategies used in Swedish foreign policy differs throughout the analyzed turning points. During the EU- and NATO-entry status-seeking is expressed through mobilizing by highlighting similarities to the group in which they seek to be included in. During the feminist foreign policy Sweden is presented as unique and innovative, adapting a strategy of social creativity. These findings demonstrate that Swedish foreign policy can be understood as a strategic attempt to achieve favorable positions in the international system.