Realism och idealism i svensk säkerhetspolitik

Sammanfattning: Contemporary Swedish security policy indicates a shift from an international orientation into an increased nationally emphasized policy. This thesis questions if the governmental view on security and external context has changed from a liberal to a more realist notion and how that may be reflected in the security policy transformation 2004-2015. The liberal and realist schools of thought constitutes the basis of the analytic framework. Realists argue that international relations are tinged by anarchy, uncertainty and power struggle between states while liberalists share an optimistic view on humanity and contend that international relations can overcome anarchy. The conclusion of the thesis argues that a realist view of the surrounding world has increased in response to the Russian violations against Georgia and Ukraine. This is also reflected in the security policy transformation process. However, the government´s views seem to have retained liberal values on security along with the essence of external relations as a means to take unified action against a broad scale of security threats.