Unpacking the varying strategic logics of total defence
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What is the strategic logic of so-called ‘total defence’? At first glance, total defence may appear as one coherent strategic concept. Indeed, it was predominantly small, non-aligned states that pursued total defence during the Cold War. In this article, however, we demonstrate that depending on how ‘total war’ is understood, there are subsequently different strategic logics ingrained in total defence. We show this by developing a typology of different total defences; and by empirically illustrating variation in strategic logics over time through a historical analysis of the total defence(s) in Sweden. Recognising the inherent variation of total defence is important since it helps us to understand that hidden behind a nominal pursuit of a total defence strategy are multifaceted strategies.
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The Evolution of Hybrid Warfare: Implications for Strategy and the Military Profession
Käihkö, I. (2021) · The US Army War College Quarterly Parameters · doi:10.55540/0031-1723.3084 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
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Victor Tillberg, L., Berndtsson, J., & Tillberg, P. (2025) · Scandinavian Journal of Military Studies · doi:10.31374/sjms.288 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“What is psychological in psychological defence? Revisiting the Nordic total defence doctrines”
Pursiainen, C. (2026) · Defence Studies · doi:10.1080/14702436.2026.2664463
- Authors
- Angstrom, J., & Ljungkvist, K.
- Affiliations
- Department of War Studies and Military History, Swedish Defence University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Swedish Defence University (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Ljungkvist, Kristin
- ORCID
- Ljungkvist, Kristin
- Venue
- Journal of Strategic Studies
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2023-09-27
- Volume
- 47
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 498-522
- ISSN
- 0140-2390 (ISSN-L)
- 1743-937X
- OpenAlex
- W4387139409
- Cited by
- 23
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 15 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 3
- FWCI
- 4.69
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Strategic Studies (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- Försvarshögskolan
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Defense, Military, and Policy Studies
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Military History and Strategy
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › European and Russian Geopolitical Military Strategies
- Keywords
- total defence, strategic logic, total war, Sweden, Cold War, non-aligned states, defense strategy, military strategy
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