National identity affects the willingness to defend the country – but in different ways

The willingness to defend one’s country is shaped by more than national pride. A new study from the Swedish Defence University and Uppsala University shows that a sense of national belonging and pride in Swedish culture strengthens the willingness to defend the country, while ethnic nationalism does not. Uncritical patriotism may even reduce such willingness.

The issue of citizens’ defence willingness has gained renewed urgency in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. For small and medium-sized states, which rely on whole-of-society defence efforts, such willingness is a prerequisite for a functioning total defence. A new study published in the journal European Security provides a more nuanced picture of what lies behind this willingness to defend the nation.

A complex link between national identity and defence willingness

The study, based on an online survey of a politically representative sample of 2,022 Swedish citizens and 1,953 Danish citizens, shows that the relationship between national identity and defence willingness is more complex than earlier research has suggested.

“Previous studies have usually looked at general national pride as a single factor, but our research shows that national identity is multidimensional. Different aspects of national identity can pull in different directions when it comes to defence willingness,” says Ralph Sundberg, Senior Lecturer in War Studies at the Swedish Defence University, who conducted the study together with Gina Gustavsson, Associate Professor of Political Science at Uppsala University.

The results indicate that factors such as national attachment, cultural pride (for example pride in Swedish literature), national chauvinism – i.e. believing Sweden is better than most other countries – and a cultural or civic understanding of what it means to be Swedish all have a positive effect on defence willingness.

“This is not only about a vague feeling of pride, but also about more concrete experiences of belonging, cultural values and views of what it means to be part of the nation,” says Ralph Sundberg.

He also points out that the study included Swedes with an immigrant background. “We do not look specifically at this group in this study, but in a follow-up study we have found that people with immigrant backgrounds sometimes show higher defence willingness than native-born Swedes.”

Not all dimensions point in the same direction

The study also shows that the relationships are not straightforward. An ethnic understanding of nationhood – the idea that ancestry determines whether someone is considered a “real” Swede – has no significant effect on defence willingness. Even more surprisingly, uncritical patriotism has a negative effect.

“Our findings show that individuals with a ‘my country, right or wrong’ attitude actually have lower levels of defence willingness than others. This challenges the traditional view that strong nationalism always strengthens the willingness to defend the country,” says Sundberg.

This means that defence willingness does not arise solely from loyalty to the state or its symbols, but rather from a combination of emotional attachment, cultural pride and a sense of community.

High defence willingness in Sweden despite no war experience

That the study was conducted in Sweden makes the results particularly interesting. Unlike neighbouring Finland, Norway and Denmark, Sweden has not experienced war or occupation in modern times. Yet defence willingness is higher in Sweden than in many other European countries.

“This makes Sweden a unique case. Our research shows that a historical experience of war is not necessary for defence willingness to be strong. Instead, pride in the country’s democracy, culture and history can play a decisive role,” says Sundberg.

At a time when Sweden faces major changes in its security and defence policy, the results provide an important piece of the puzzle for understanding defence willingness as a phenomenon.

New insights for research on nationalism and national identity

The study contributes not only to research on defence willingness, but also to the broader scholarly debate on nationalism and national identity – a debate recently highlighted in Sweden through the introduction of a cultural canon.

“A key conclusion is that we must view national identity as multifaceted. It consists of several dimensions that affect defence willingness in different ways, sometimes in opposite directions. This is an important reminder that identity is more complex than simply pride in the nation,” says Gina Gustavsson.

The findings show that cultural and civic nationalism can be just as important as traditional military pride in motivating Swedes to defend their country – whereas ethnic nationalism does not have this effect.

Relevant results for the Swedish Armed Forces and total defence

The study highlights the importance of continuing to explore how different dimensions of national identity interact with defence willingness. For policymakers and defence planners, the results are particularly relevant.

“If we want to understand defence willingness, we must understand the feelings and values that people associate with their nation. It is not only about military capability or threats, but also about how people perceive their community and identity,” says Sundberg.

By broadening our understanding of these relationships, we can build a more nuanced picture of why people are prepared to defend their country – and thereby strengthen the capacity to build a robust total defence.