FRÅN SOLIDARITET TILL SÄKERHET: EN KVALITATIV ANALYS AV SVERIGES UTRIKESPOLITISKA DISKURS

Abstract

Swedish foreign policy has undergone significant changes over the past 15 years, from emphasizing humanitarian values to more security-oriented policies. The purpose of this study is to examine the transformation of Sweden's foreign policy discourse between 2009 and 2024, focusing on identifying a breaking point in the discourse through a qualitative content analysis of Sweden’s foreign policy declarations from 2009 to 2024. The result of the study shows that Sweden’s foreign policy has changed significantly during this period, with one the most prominent turning point being Sweden's NATO membership. This change reflects a redefinition of humanitarian values in a new security policy context. This study contributes to the understanding of how Sweden navigates the balance between its humanitarian identity and evolving security challenges, offering insights into the dynamics of foreign policy discourse in a changing geopolitical context.