Research areas and subjects

The central objects of study within War Studies are war, warfare and military use of force. Typical research questions center on the nature of war, the utility of military assets, the methodology or military organisations, and how military capabilities are created, run, organised and work in different kinds of operations (conventional and unconventional). War Studies also study driving forces in military organisations, the conditions of the officer profession, civil-military relations, total defence, how you explain victory and defeat in battles, campaigns and war, as well as issues regarding women, peace and security.

Chair professor: Professor Annick Wibben
Director of studies: Associate Professor Mikael Weissmann

Political Science with a specialisation in Crisis Management and Security Studies is the scientific study of politics with a focus on foreign, defence and security policies as well as crisis management, crisis preparedness, societal security, and international cooperation. The subject is broad and anchored in international relations, administrative policies, comparative politics and political theory, but also draws inspiration from other areas of research research within and outside political science. Some of the things studied includes the policies and practices of how security is created or undermined, as well as how crises are prevented and managed in a Swedish, European and international context. As an example, threats, conflicts, policy-making processes, identities and ethical dilemmas pertaining to state, society and individuals are studied both nationally and internationally.

Chair professor: Professor Linus Hagström
Director of studies: Associate Professor Simon Hollis

Leadership and command and control is an interdisciplinary subject that draws on and develops knowledge from behavioural science, social science and design science. The research encompasses several academic perspectives such as pedagogy, psychology, sociology, and political science.

Command and Control is the function in a response system that provides direction and coordination in order to achieve the stated objectives, while leadership describes how a leader interacts with a group of people to influence them to achieve the stated objectives. The research spans individuals, groups, organizations, and society, studying the conditions of leadership at different hierarchical levels before, during, and after response efforts, as well as the functions and technical supports available to support leadership and how they interact in various systems. In addition, the research covers leadership development, human resource management, recruitment and selection issues, test and methodology development, stress, risk and crisis management, organization, and the comprehensive Swedish total defence concept.

Leadership and command and control conducts doctoral studies in collaboration with other higher education institutions.

Chair professor: Professor Erik Berntson
Director of studies: Associate Professor Jenny Madestam

The subject of Systems Science for Defence and Security can be described as a discipline at the interface between social science and engineering. The main object of study is the interaction between technical and social components which affect or contribute to defence and security. One of the main tenets in systems science for defence and security is that technical and social elements should not be studied in isolation from each other.

Systems Science for Defence and Security conducts doctoral studies in collaboration with other higher education institutions.

Head of Subject: Associate Professor Hans Liwång