After two years of war, peace has finally come to Sweden. Several cities have been destroyed, but a strong sense of solidarity and a spirit of reconstruction permeates the country. Citizens work side by side to rebuild what once was, while simultaneously healing from the wounds of war. During the conflict, certain areas of Swedish territory remained under Swedish control while others were occupied or recaptured. In the formerly occupied areas, infrastructure is now being restored alongside the reintroduction of the Swedish legal system. In the wake of the aggressor's withdrawal, several war crimes investigations are also being launched to hold those responsible to account, while many Swedish citizens are being arrested and prosecuted for collaboration with the enemy. International support is flowing in, helping to create stability and confidence in the future. Despite dark times, there is a strong will to build a better and safer Sweden.
Before Russia's brutal and full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, few could even have imagined that war might reach Sweden's borders. The international security environment has, however, changed and made us painfully aware that no nation is immune to armed conflict. The Swedish view of national security and defence has shifted, forcing a reassessment of previous strategies and priorities. More people are now talking about war, while relatively few are yet discussing a post-war period. This is not surprising in itself, as it is human nature to focus on what is most immediate. This focus is reflected in both public debate and in research. A clear example is the now decade-old FOI report Civil Defence: A Research Overview, in which the author Fredrik Lindgren analyses some eighty academic reports. His review (p. 36) notes, among other things: "Looking at the distribution across the different phases of civil defence work (before, during, after), the most striking observation is that the 'after' phase is addressed to a very limited extent in the material studied. No report focuses its presentation on this phase." This observation points not only to gaps in research but also to the need for greater discussion about the challenges that may arise during a potential post-war period.
So let us open the door to this subject. When the war finally ends, we may face a reality in which Swedish territory has been occupied by the enemy. In some places, fierce fighting may have taken place, while other areas may have been spared direct combat. In areas that were under the aggressor's control, the occupying power may have established its own administrative structures, including a police force. With this in mind, the societal and policing reconstruction may vary considerably depending on how exposed and affected a given area was during the war. One of several challenges that may arise is how society, including the police, should relate to individuals (such as public servants) who worked for the occupying power during the war. These individuals may have been enticed or coerced into collaborating with the aggressor in various ways. This could include, for example, indirect enablers, but also those who may have directly carried out torture or lethal violence against their fellow citizens.
Once peace has arrived, the collective joy at the war being over may quickly become mixed with anger and hatred towards those who collaborated with the enemy. It is not unreasonable that such a situation could lead to calls for the death penalty. Society may then face the difficult task of balancing citizens' demands for justice and retribution against the need to uphold a rule-of-law order that does not cast us back to medieval justice. This could become a difficult balancing act in which justice and reconciliation must be weighed against each other, while preserving society's integrity and humanitarian values. Alongside elected politicians, the judiciary will also play a central role in such a situation.
In order to restore confidence in the legal system, the police must, among other things, ensure that investigations into war crimes and collaboration with the enemy are conducted thoroughly, transparently, and impartially. This is about winning the trust of citizens and making clear that justice is administered in a legitimate manner. In parallel, the police will need to work to maintain law and order in the formerly occupied areas, which means managing any conflicts and security threats that may arise as these communities are reintegrated.
From history, we can draw several lessons that may guide us now and in the future. After the end of the Second World War, for example, the Norwegian police faced significant challenges, partly due to the vacuum left by the German occupation and partly due to the structural reconstruction of the country. Several police officers had been compelled to collaborate with the occupying power, and after the war, purges were carried out within the force to remove criminals and Nazi collaborators. At the same time, officers who had been dismissed or forced underground during the war were reinstated, helping to restore a professional and trustworthy force. The Norwegian police also played an important role in the legal proceedings against war criminals and collaborators, while simultaneously managing flows of refugees, black-market activity, and more.
Even though the war and its trauma have fortunately not yet reached us, the time to prepare is now. By integrating post-war considerations into national defence strategies, we can design holistic and robust defence plans that not only prepare us for war, but also promote sustainable peace and sound recovery. It is therefore important that we broaden our defence discussion to encompass the post-war period as well. Only then can we be fully prepared for all phases of a conflict and ensure that Sweden not only survives, but also manages the aftermath of a war and heals from its wounds.
Patrik ThunholmPolice officer, reserve officer, and author