From historical security issues to the defence of the future

How should Europe be defended in an era of uncertainty and open rivalry between great powers? This is one of the questions Peter Haldén is exploring. He has been Professor of War Studies at the Swedish Defence University since 1 October 2026. With a wide-ranging interest in war and political orders, he aims to contribute to a safer and stronger Sweden and Europe.

Peter Haldén’s research spans historical solutions to security challenges and questions about the future of defence. He is currently writing a book on how Europe should be defended in the twenty-first century, as changing geopolitical conditions and great power rivalry place new demands on defence.

He is also working on several other book projects. This breadth reflects his curiosity about war and how societies and political orders function.

“I am interested in a great many fields and subjects related to war and political orders. There is really no field that cannot, in some way, be utterly fascinating”, he says.

Historical solutions for stability

In January 2027, he will publish a book on permanent neutralisation. This is a strategic and legal arrangement used to create predictability and stability, particularly during the nineteenth century but also during parts of the twentieth century.

Another book project examines how geography, technology and strategic objectives together shape the military operational environment – the conditions in which military forces operate. He plans to finish writing that book in 2027.

The projects address different questions but share an interest in war and the political contexts in which it takes place.

Freedom and responsibility drew him to research

The combination of intellectual freedom and the opportunity to contribute to society’s security made a research career appealing from an early stage.

“I realised early on that the combination of freedom, creativity and the opportunity to contribute to the defence of Sweden and Europe was impossible to resist.”

Researching war also allows him to explore questions that span both historical periods and geographical boundaries.

“Being able to explore war, such an important part of human experience, across time and space offers a way to satisfy an endless curiosity.”

Via Florence and Helsinki to the Swedish Defence University

After studying in Stockholm and Berlin, Peter Haldén completed his PhD at the European University Institute in Florence in 2006. He subsequently worked at the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) and Stockholm University.

Between 2008 and 2010, he held a postdoctoral research position in history at the University of Helsinki. He then spent three years at Uppsala University before joining the Swedish Defence University in 2014.

Since then, he has continued to explore questions of war, defence and political orders. Asked what he hopes to achieve through his research in the longer term, his answer is brief:

“A safer and stronger Sweden and Europe.”