A new study from the Swedish Defence University and Uppsala University shows that a sense of national unity and cultural pride strengthens the willingness to defend Sweden, while ethnic nationalism does not.
The study is based on a survey of just over 2000 Swedes and nearly 2000 Danes. The researchers found that attachment to the nation, pride in Swedish culture, and a civic view of Swedish identity have a positive effect. On the other hand, individuals with a "my country, right or wrong" attitude show lower willingness to defend than others.
– Our results indicate that it is not solely about loyalty to the state or its symbols, but a combination of emotional attachment, cultural pride, and community, says Ralph Sundberg, lecturer in war studies at the Swedish Defence University.
The researchers emphasize that national identity is multifaceted and can pull in different directions when it comes to the willingness to defend the country. For total defense, this provides a more nuanced picture of which emotions and values are important for building defense capability in a broad sense.