Who’s going to take care of our kids? : Swedish officers’ sensemaking of dual responsibilities in war

Sammanfattning

Amid Europe's ongoing war and threat of expansion, Sweden has refocused on national defence. Uncertainty remains about how children, especially of dual-military parents, will be cared for during war. These parents face emotional conflict between their duties as military members and their responsibilities to their children. This thesis examines how Swedish dual-military parents interpret these conflicts through semi-structured interviews and draws on thematic analysis, sensemaking theory, and concepts of loyalty and institutions. It finds that officers are concerned about their children's care but are willing to serve to secure their children’s future or to support Sweden's defence, due to their private support systems. However, this readiness is not unconditional, as children’s wellbeing has priority. The care of the children is thus a precondition for our national defence.