FRÅN ALLIANSFRIHET TILL ALLIERAD: : EN DISKURSANALYS AV SVENSK IDENTITETSOMVANDLING

Sammanfattning

This thesis examines how Swedish national identity is constructed and renegotiated in political discourse during Sweden’s NATO process. The study focuses on three reports from the Swedish Defence Commission published between 2022 and 2024. Using discourse analysis in combination with Carol Bacchi’s WPR approach, the thesis analyse show threats, security and identity are represented in these documents. The theoretical framework is based on poststructuralism and ontological security, which makes it possible to understand NATO membership not only as a strategic policy change, but also as a challenge to Sweden’s established self-image as militarily non-aligned. The analysis shows that Russia is constructed as a long-term and structural threat, while Sweden is increasingly positioned as part of a Western and democratic security community. The NATO process is therefore not presented as a complete break with Sweden’s previous identity, but as a continuation of earlier ideas about solidarity, responsibility and international cooperation. The thesis argues that this discursive construction helps manage the ontological uncertainty created by the shift from military non-alignment to alliance membership. In this way, NATO membership is made understandable, legitimate and compatible with a continued Swedish self-image.