Svenska officerare och Nato: : En studie om hot, kultur och viljan att försvara alliansen

Sammanfattning

This thesis examines how Swedish officers’ willingness to participate in the defense of NATO allies varies depending on cultural distance and threat perception. Using a scenario-based survey and multilevel regression analysis, data from 40 officers were analyzed across ten hypothetical NATO scenarios. The results show that both cultural distance and perceived threats, particularly threats against Sweden, significantly influence officers’ willingness to contribute to allied defense. While officers are more inclined to defend culturally similar nations, this tendency can be offset by a high perceived threat level. The study contributes to theoretical understandings of alliance loyalty by highlighting the role of psychological and cultural proximity, as well as the importance of strategic narratives in shaping defense motivation. Findings suggest that strategic communication and joint training may reduce psychological distance and strengthen cohesion within NATO.