Instability in the Arctic : Sweden’s Security Discourse on China in the Arctic before and after the outbreak of the Ukraine Conflict

This thesis examines the official Swedish security discourse on China’s role in the Arctic, focusing on how the discourse has evolved in response to the geopolitical shifts in the region and with the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This thesis examines the discourse from before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and compares it to the discourse after the invasion of Ukraine. Key themes such as security, militarization, strategic partnership, sovereignty, economic opportunity, and research have been identified through a qualitative discourse analysis of official documents, policy papers, and security reports. The findings reveal a dual nature in Swedish discourse, on the one hand diplomatic and encouraging cooperation, on the other critical. The discourse was examined in two parts, before and after the invasion of Ukraine, leading to a comparison of the divided time period. Pre-invasion, the discourse was more centered on economic investments and research activities. Post-invasion, it was more critical and focused on security. China’s partnership with Russia and the dual use of Chinese research is of special interest. Through Luke’s dimensions of power, the analysis further builds upon the findings and presents the power-based actions of both China and Sweden. This thesis contributes to understanding how Sweden navigates power dynamics in the Arctic, the implications of China’s ambitions in the Arctic, and their effect on Swedish national security.