Leadership and collaboration for Sweden’s total defence

As demands for decisiveness and clear leadership increase, the Swedish public administration model’s strong tradition of collaboration is being put to the test. At a time when the total defence system is being developed and civil–military cooperation is deepening, this project examines how leadership takes shape in collaborative contexts and what tensions arise when actors who are formally equal are nevertheless expected to be led.

The Swedish public administration model is built on cooperation between equal actors. In 2025, the Government has, through steering documents, set out requirements for public authorities to exercise clearer leadership and demonstrate greater decisiveness. This may pose a challenge both for individuals and for the system as a whole.

The project’s national focus is on exploring the tensions that may emerge when collaboration as a principle of governance must coexist with a growing need for, and increased demands on, leadership. At the same time, the development of the total defence system requires expanded civil–military cooperation, where the participating actors have differing levels of experience of – and perspectives on – leadership. It therefore becomes relevant to examine how leadership is expressed in different collaborative contexts, by whom, and what impact this has on what is achieved collectively. The project has been presented in several training programmes for actors within the system, and we can conclude that its research focus reflects real challenges facing the system.

In order to identify lessons learned and gain additional perspectives on leadership and collaboration that may be of value to Sweden, the project will also carry out international comparisons, including with Finland.