Magnus Petersson
Biographic Data
| ID | 4187736 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Magnus Petersson |
| GIVEN NAMES | Magnus |
| FAMILY NAME | Petersson |
| SIGNATURE | PETERSSON M |
| AFFILIATIONS | Norwegian Defence University College |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-0016-821X |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 13 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 27 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 12 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 1 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2006 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2021 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Small states and autonomous systems - the Scandinavian case
Small states are often described as weak, and unlikely to achieve their goals when confronted by great powers. However, technologies of the 4th Industrial Revolution, especially autonomous weapon systems combined with artificial intelligence, may enable small states to enhance their security. Therefore, it should be rational for small states to develop strategies based on advances in technology. This article explores three small Scandinavian stat…
Sweden and the issue of Nato membership: Exploring a public opinion paradox
The past decade has seen substantial shifts in Swedish security policy and major change in the domestic debate about NATO. For the first time, all of the right-of-centre “alliance parties” are calling for a full NATO membership, and popular support for NATO has increased. Yet public opinion contains ambiguities and paradoxes that complicate the picture. At the same time as support for NATO has increased, the public is overwhelmingly for continued…
Weak party escalation: An underestimated strategy for small states
In this article, we develop the strategic rationale behind weak party escalation against stronger adversaries. There are, we suggest, four main strategies: to provoke a desired over-reaction from the stronger adversary; to compartmentalize conflict within a domain in which the weak party has advantages; to carve a niche with a stronger ally, and to forge a reputation of not yielding lightly. Spelling out these different logics contributes to the …
‘The Allied Partner’: Sweden and Nato Through the Realist–Idealist Lens
During the Cold War, Sweden was secretly integrated in Western defence planning. Since then, Sweden has become one of NATO’s most eager partners, cooperating with the organisation to such a large extent that it is informally referred to as NATO’s ‘allied partner’ or ‘partner number one’. Sweden has contributed greatly to all major NATO operations (Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Libya), even more so than many NATO members, and during the 2014 NAT…
The United States as the Reluctant Ally
US leadership in NATO has been declining since the Cold War ended. From a European perspective, the United States looks more and more like a "reluctant ally." A re-nationalization of European security could occur without strong US leadership
Doctrine and Defence Transformation in Norway and Sweden
In this article we analyse to what degree the three functions of doctrine proposed by Harald Høiback – doctrine as a tool of operations, a tool of education, and a tool of change – have driven defence transformation in two Scandinavian states, Norway and Sweden. We conclude that doctrine, both allied and national, has had some impact on defence transformation in both countries: through the operations in Afghanistan, through education both at the …
Nato's European Allies
The question of burden sharing has always been important in NATO with an acute relevance today as the US will cut its defence budget over a ten-year period and is no longer automatically willing to le
Shifted Roles: Explaining Danish and Norwegian Alliance Strategy 1949–2009
During their 60 years within the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), Denmark and Norway have experienced both high and low standings within the alliance, which can be attributed to both external and internal factors influencing their alliance strategies. During the ‘first’ Cold War and Détente, 1949–79, Danish and Norwegian alliance strategy aimed to simultaneously deter and reassure the Soviet Union. During the ‘second’ Cold War, 1979–89,…
Sweden and the Scandinavian Defence Dilemma
Research on Swedish security policy during the Cold War built on primary sources has been growing over the last 20 years. One of the most discussed issues has been ‘neutral’ Sweden's interaction with the West, and especially the United States and the United Kingdom. The newly published documents from the British Foreign Office (FO) in the volume The Nordic Countries: From War to Cold War, 1944–1951 are, against that background, of considerable va…
Defense Transformation and Legitimacy in Scandinavia after the Cold War: Theoretical and Practical Implications
This article analyzes how defense transformation in Scandinavia has been legitimized and which legitimacy it enjoys. The overall result is that it does not have unambiguous support. There are, however, similarities and differences, both between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members Denmark and Norway and nonaligned Sweden, and between the NATO members. Theoretically, the alliance members should be more willing to transform-even if…
Komplement eller konkurrent? Några reflexioner kring det nordiska militärpolitiska samarbetet
Deterrence or Reassurance?1: Nordic Responses to the First Détente, 1953–1956
Historians remember 1953 for the death of Stalin and the ensuing relaxation of East‐West tensions, now known as the First Détente. Based on recent Cold War scholarship supplemented by primary documentation, this comparative study looks at the Nordic reaction to the First Détente 1953–1956 in terms of deterrence and reassurance. The results suggest that, while the Nordic governments uniformly welcomed a more relaxed international atmosphere and en…
The Scandinavian Triangle: Danish-Norwegian-Swedish military intelligence cooperation and Swedish security policy during the first part of the Cold War
This article deals with Scandinavian intelligence cooperation and its significance for Swedish security policy during the first part of the Cold War. First, the development of the cooperation is described. Second, it is related to a wider context. Third, intelligence in Swedish security policy-making is discussed. Common security interests caused the cooperation. For Sweden, it represented an important part of the wider contacts with the West. Al…
Sweden and the issue of Nato membership: Exploring a public opinion paradox
The past decade has seen substantial shifts in Swedish security policy and major change in the domestic debate about NATO. For the first time, all of the right-of-centre “alliance parties” are calling for a full NATO membership, and popular support for NATO has increased. Yet public opinion contains ambiguities and paradoxes that complicate the picture. At the same time as support for NATO has increased, the public is overwhelmingly for continued…
Defense Transformation and Legitimacy in Scandinavia after the Cold War: Theoretical and Practical Implications
This article analyzes how defense transformation in Scandinavia has been legitimized and which legitimacy it enjoys. The overall result is that it does not have unambiguous support. There are, however, similarities and differences, both between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members Denmark and Norway and nonaligned Sweden, and between the NATO members. Theoretically, the alliance members should be more willing to transform-even if…
Sweden and the Scandinavian Defence Dilemma
Research on Swedish security policy during the Cold War built on primary sources has been growing over the last 20 years. One of the most discussed issues has been ‘neutral’ Sweden's interaction with the West, and especially the United States and the United Kingdom. The newly published documents from the British Foreign Office (FO) in the volume The Nordic Countries: From War to Cold War, 1944–1951 are, against that background, of considerable va…
Deterrence or Reassurance?1: Nordic Responses to the First Détente, 1953–1956
Historians remember 1953 for the death of Stalin and the ensuing relaxation of East‐West tensions, now known as the First Détente. Based on recent Cold War scholarship supplemented by primary documentation, this comparative study looks at the Nordic reaction to the First Détente 1953–1956 in terms of deterrence and reassurance. The results suggest that, while the Nordic governments uniformly welcomed a more relaxed international atmosphere and en…
Shifted Roles: Explaining Danish and Norwegian Alliance Strategy 1949–2009
During their 60 years within the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), Denmark and Norway have experienced both high and low standings within the alliance, which can be attributed to both external and internal factors influencing their alliance strategies. During the ‘first’ Cold War and Détente, 1949–79, Danish and Norwegian alliance strategy aimed to simultaneously deter and reassure the Soviet Union. During the ‘second’ Cold War, 1979–89,…
The Scandinavian Triangle: Danish-Norwegian-Swedish military intelligence cooperation and Swedish security policy during the first part of the Cold War
This article deals with Scandinavian intelligence cooperation and its significance for Swedish security policy during the first part of the Cold War. First, the development of the cooperation is described. Second, it is related to a wider context. Third, intelligence in Swedish security policy-making is discussed. Common security interests caused the cooperation. For Sweden, it represented an important part of the wider contacts with the West. Al…
Small states and autonomous systems - the Scandinavian case
Small states are often described as weak, and unlikely to achieve their goals when confronted by great powers. However, technologies of the 4th Industrial Revolution, especially autonomous weapon systems combined with artificial intelligence, may enable small states to enhance their security. Therefore, it should be rational for small states to develop strategies based on advances in technology. This article explores three small Scandinavian stat…
Doctrine and Defence Transformation in Norway and Sweden
In this article we analyse to what degree the three functions of doctrine proposed by Harald Høiback – doctrine as a tool of operations, a tool of education, and a tool of change – have driven defence transformation in two Scandinavian states, Norway and Sweden. We conclude that doctrine, both allied and national, has had some impact on defence transformation in both countries: through the operations in Afghanistan, through education both at the …
The Scandinavian Triangle: Danish-Norwegian-Swedish military intelligence cooperation and Swedish security policy during the first part of the Cold War
This article deals with Scandinavian intelligence cooperation and its significance for Swedish security policy during the first part of the Cold War. First, the development of the cooperation is described. Second, it is related to a wider context. Third, intelligence in Swedish security policy-making is discussed. Common security interests caused the cooperation. For Sweden, it represented an important part of the wider contacts with the West. Al…
Deterrence or Reassurance?1: Nordic Responses to the First Détente, 1953–1956
Historians remember 1953 for the death of Stalin and the ensuing relaxation of East‐West tensions, now known as the First Détente. Based on recent Cold War scholarship supplemented by primary documentation, this comparative study looks at the Nordic reaction to the First Détente 1953–1956 in terms of deterrence and reassurance. The results suggest that, while the Nordic governments uniformly welcomed a more relaxed international atmosphere and en…
Komplement eller konkurrent? Några reflexioner kring det nordiska militärpolitiska samarbetet
Defense Transformation and Legitimacy in Scandinavia after the Cold War: Theoretical and Practical Implications
This article analyzes how defense transformation in Scandinavia has been legitimized and which legitimacy it enjoys. The overall result is that it does not have unambiguous support. There are, however, similarities and differences, both between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members Denmark and Norway and nonaligned Sweden, and between the NATO members. Theoretically, the alliance members should be more willing to transform-even if…
Sweden and the Scandinavian Defence Dilemma
Research on Swedish security policy during the Cold War built on primary sources has been growing over the last 20 years. One of the most discussed issues has been ‘neutral’ Sweden's interaction with the West, and especially the United States and the United Kingdom. The newly published documents from the British Foreign Office (FO) in the volume The Nordic Countries: From War to Cold War, 1944–1951 are, against that background, of considerable va…
Nato's European Allies
The question of burden sharing has always been important in NATO with an acute relevance today as the US will cut its defence budget over a ten-year period and is no longer automatically willing to le
Shifted Roles: Explaining Danish and Norwegian Alliance Strategy 1949–2009
During their 60 years within the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), Denmark and Norway have experienced both high and low standings within the alliance, which can be attributed to both external and internal factors influencing their alliance strategies. During the ‘first’ Cold War and Détente, 1949–79, Danish and Norwegian alliance strategy aimed to simultaneously deter and reassure the Soviet Union. During the ‘second’ Cold War, 1979–89,…
The United States as the Reluctant Ally
US leadership in NATO has been declining since the Cold War ended. From a European perspective, the United States looks more and more like a "reluctant ally." A re-nationalization of European security could occur without strong US leadership
Doctrine and Defence Transformation in Norway and Sweden
In this article we analyse to what degree the three functions of doctrine proposed by Harald Høiback – doctrine as a tool of operations, a tool of education, and a tool of change – have driven defence transformation in two Scandinavian states, Norway and Sweden. We conclude that doctrine, both allied and national, has had some impact on defence transformation in both countries: through the operations in Afghanistan, through education both at the …
‘The Allied Partner’: Sweden and Nato Through the Realist–Idealist Lens
During the Cold War, Sweden was secretly integrated in Western defence planning. Since then, Sweden has become one of NATO’s most eager partners, cooperating with the organisation to such a large extent that it is informally referred to as NATO’s ‘allied partner’ or ‘partner number one’. Sweden has contributed greatly to all major NATO operations (Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Libya), even more so than many NATO members, and during the 2014 NAT…
Sweden and the issue of Nato membership: Exploring a public opinion paradox
The past decade has seen substantial shifts in Swedish security policy and major change in the domestic debate about NATO. For the first time, all of the right-of-centre “alliance parties” are calling for a full NATO membership, and popular support for NATO has increased. Yet public opinion contains ambiguities and paradoxes that complicate the picture. At the same time as support for NATO has increased, the public is overwhelmingly for continued…
Weak party escalation: An underestimated strategy for small states
In this article, we develop the strategic rationale behind weak party escalation against stronger adversaries. There are, we suggest, four main strategies: to provoke a desired over-reaction from the stronger adversary; to compartmentalize conflict within a domain in which the weak party has advantages; to carve a niche with a stronger ally, and to forge a reputation of not yielding lightly. Spelling out these different logics contributes to the …
Small states and autonomous systems - the Scandinavian case
Small states are often described as weak, and unlikely to achieve their goals when confronted by great powers. However, technologies of the 4th Industrial Revolution, especially autonomous weapon systems combined with artificial intelligence, may enable small states to enhance their security. Therefore, it should be rational for small states to develop strategies based on advances in technology. This article explores three small Scandinavian stat…
Political science (13 works) · Law (10 works) · Sociology (9 works) · Political economy (8 works) · International Relations and Foreign Policy (7 works) · Law (7 works) · Politics (5 works) · Cold war (4 works) · European and Russian Geopolitical Military Strategies (4 works) · History (4 works)