Britain, Sweden and the Cold War, 1945-54
This thesis explores the ways in which British policy contributed to Sweden's Western connection in the early cold war. It considers the extent to which an analysis of British policy is necessary to an understanding of how the cold war shaped the Nordic region and whether there was a special part for Britain in the ways in which Sweden sought to be bound to the Western powers economically, politically and militarily. A central conclusion is that British policy was instrumental in establishing the conditions whereby Sweden could reconcile the conflicting demands of its official foreign policy of neutrality with the reality of its economic, cultural and ideological Western orientation. Swedish military nonalignment did not lead to international isolation, and until US policy changed in 1952 and a more positive approach towards Sweden was officially adopted, Britain remained the primary link between Sweden and the Western alliance. This was seen in almost every aspect of Sweden's Western connection. Swedish defences were built with British high technology, material and assistance. Service level exchanges kept both parties abreast of developments in defence planning and in questions of cold war grand strategy,
Aunesluoma, Juhana
History
Britain, Sweden and the Cold War, 1945-54. This thesis explores the ways in which British policy contributed to Sweden's Western connection in the early cold war. It considers the extent to which an analysis of British policy is necessary to an understanding of how the cold war shaped the Nordic region and whether there was a special part for Britain in the ways in which Sweden sought to be bound to the Western powers economically, politically and militarily. A central conclusion is that British policy was instrumental in establishing the conditions whereby Sweden could reconcile the conflicting demands of its official foreign policy of neutrality with the reality of its economic, cultural and ideological Western orientation. Swedish military nonalignment did not lead to international isolation, and until US policy changed in 1952 and a more positive approach towards Sweden was officially adopted, Britain remained the primary link between Sweden and the Western alliance. This was seen in almost every aspect of Sweden's Western connection. Swedish defences were built with British high technology, material and assistance. Service level exchanges kept both parties abreast of developments in defence planning and in questions of cold war grand strategy,
britain sweden cold_war explores_way british_policy contribute sweden western connection early_cold_war considers_extent analysis british_policy necessary cold_war shape region whether special part britain way sweden seek bound western power economically politically militarily central conclusion british_policy instrumental establish condition whereby sweden could reconcile conflict demand official foreign_policy neutrality reality economic_cultural ideological western orientation swedish military lead international isolation policy change positive towards sweden officially adopt britain remain primary link sweden western alliance see almost_every aspect sweden western connection swedish defence build british high technology material assistance service level exchange keep party development defence planning question cold_war grand strategy