Research at the Swedish Defence University
Our research includes both basic research and practical applied research in the fields of defence, crisis management, and security.
The Swedish Defense University's research provides knowledge about security in international and national crises and wars. This includes research on what affects the possibilities to prevent and manage crises, conflicts and wars, and to establish security. The military and civilian aspects of defense, crisis management and security are studied, particularly the area of civil-military relations and cooperation.
We are a meeting place for the civilian and military spheres that brings together a wide range of experts, such as researchers of war studies, political science, historians, international lawyers, psychologists, and officers. One of our strengths is the interaction between researchers and practitioners, such as officers and other professionals in the defence and security sector.
We house several subjects and specializations unique to Sweden in the field of defence, crisis management and security. There is ongoing research in our main subjects war studies, political science, leadership and comand & control, systems science for defence and security, military history, and law, focusing on operational law and international law.
Postgraduate education
Until 2018, the majority of the postgraduate education at the Swedish Defence University was conducted in collaboration with other universities. Now that we have a permit to issue Ph.D. degrees in the fields of defence, crisis management, and security, we can now proudly house our own postgraduate programmes.
The field of defence, crisis management, and security builds upon a high level of expertise in four disciplines at the doctoral level:
Leadership and Command & Control
Leadership and command & control are the scientific study of leading, which involves actions taken to direct, coordinate resources, and influence an individual or group to achieve a common goal. The field focuses on the individual, organisational, and inter-organisational factors that contribute to the processes enabling the achievement of shared objectives.
More about Leadership and Command & Control
Military History
Military History is the study of war, warfare, military institutions, military culture, and military thinking. It involves analyzing the impact of war on civilian society, the interaction between the military and civilians, the generation of society's resources (financial, human, and ideological), and its consequences in different eras.
Political Science
The research in political science focuses on matters related to foreign, defence and security policy, crisis management, crisis preparedness and protection of society protection, and international cooperation.
War Studies
In Sweden, this is a subject unique to the Swedish Defense University. The research addresses issues related to defense planning and doctrines, the creation of military capability, and the exercise of military power and warfare.
Collaboration with other universities
In addition to postgraduate education, we will continue to conduct research and postgraduate education in collaboration with other universities in three additional research areas:
Within our unique niche, we take a wide and extensive approach to the comprehensive defence and its various functions. We have unique expertise that covers areas from military operations to civilian crisis management.
Significant benefits for society
The Swedish Defence University conducts a high degree of applied research, which means that there is a particularly close link between our research and its benefits for society. One example of how this manifests is that our researchers are often making statements in the media and supporting authorities with analyses. In the longer term, the research is beneficial in that our students regularly benefit from the research results in their courses; they obtain knowledge that they eventually take with them into working life. Since we now have our own postgraduate education, the step between research results and education is even shorter and our resources can be used more efficiently.
Future research projects
In addition to applied research, basic research is also conducted at the National Defence University. War Studies and Political Science are social science subjects, and the same scientific practices and methods are applied here as at other universities. Approaches can range from field studies to archival research.
Pro-Vice Chancellor Malena Britz is Head of Research at the Swedish Defence University.