Neutrality and Statebuilding in Sweden

Download or read book Neutrality and Statebuilding in Sweden written by M. Malmborg and published by Springer. This book was released on 2001-10-02 with total page 234 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The successful maintenance of peace since 1814 made neutrality a widely popular doctrine in Sweden. Rather than a security policy in the strict sense, it has become a cornerstone of Swedish national identity. Yet, in the past decade the neutrality tradition has been called into question. What is meant by neutrality? Has Sweden ever been neutral? This book analyses the emergence, institutionalisation and reassessment of neutrality, of the notion of peace as a national good, from the sixteenth century to the present debate on NATO membership.