Meet some of our researchers
Do you want to learn more about our researchers and what we do at the Swedish Defence University? Here you will find interviews with some of the researchers at the Swedish Defence University.
Our researchers are experts within the fields of societal security, defence, leadership under stressful conditions and crisis management. Below you will find interviews with some of them about their research and current projects.
She researches feminist activism in Latin America
Feminist activists in countries with high levels of violence in Latin America are increasingly facing backlash. Julia Zulver, researcher and Wallenberg Academy Fellow at the Depratment of Wa...
From West Point to the Swedish Defence University
On 1 January 2025, Professor Antulio Echevarria assumes his role as the inaugural holder of the Tibell Visiting Professorship in War Studies. He will also serve as the director of the Swedis...
"Coordinating details can be harmful"
Hans Liwång is a new professor of Systems Science for Defence and Security, a subject at the nexus of technological development, defence and major societal issues. He believes in diversity a...
"I want to contribute with new knowledge and make a difference"
Aida Alvinius' research spans areas such as leadership in crisis and war, gender, and sustainability in the workplace. She is driven by a strong commitment to create change. "I even gave bi...
With a focus on sexual violence against civilians
Maria Eriksson Baaz's research revolves around violence against civilians, particularly with a focus on sexual violence in both war and peace contexts. "In situations where sexual violence...
Interdisciplinary perspective on crisis management
Focus on soft issues and be prepared to compromise. This enhances the ability to lead organizations through major crises, according to Christian Uhr, who is the new adjunct professor in Lead...
Sweden's path to NATO
Magnus Christiansson has transitioned from being a teacher at the Karlberg Military Academy to becoming a researcher and senior lecturer at the Swedish Defence University. He frequently appe...
"Knowledge of history provides a better understanding of the present"
Aryo Makko is the new Visiting Professor of Military History at the Swedish Defence University. His research focuses on the history of international relations in the 19th and 20th centuries,...
"We need to learn more about Russia"
Although Russia has been high on the news agenda since the invasion of Ukraine on the 24th of February 2022, Oscar Jonsson is convinced that we need more knowledge to understand and evaluate...
Military history research provides new perspectives
Having begun her research career focusing on European politics during the Cold War, Maria Gussarsson's interest in military history was sparked when she started digging in the War Archives....
Passive-destructive leaders are the worst
Maria Fors Brandebo's research has unexpectedly shown that it is the passive destructive leadership behaviors that often have the greatest negative impact. "They not only exacerbate workpla...
"I like to ask big questions"
Antoine Bousquet is a researcher that likes to look at broad historical processes and draw connections from different fields. He has recently published a second edition of his first book Th...
He wants to strengthen the empiric historical research
With a strong anchoring in the empirical tradition, Professor Steve Murdoch hopes to contribute with new knowledge, both about the military-diplomatic relations between Scotland and the Nord...
"A common thread in my work is to support innovation management"
Ingrid Kihlander has been in place as an adjunct professor in innovation management at the Swedish Defence University since October 9, 2023.
A security policy jack-of-all-trades
Kjell Engelbrekt has conducted research in the areas of European security policy, transatlantic security and superpower diplomacy. His current research focus is to evaluate Sweden's role in...
From submarine commander to professor
Roar Espevik has a background as a submarine officer and extensive experience in leadership development under stressful conditions. His drive to try something new led him to the Swedish Defe...
She wants to contribute to more secure oceans
Associate Senior Lecturer Adriana Ávila-Zúñiga Nordfjeld's research focuses on port and maritime safety and security. With extensive experience in the field, one of her driving forces is to...
How is leadership affected by the organisation?
Erik Berntson has long been interested in leadership issues and his research focuses on the organisational conditions for managers in leadership positions. "There is quite a lot known about...
Feminist perspectives on civil war
Jenny Hedström, associate professor and associate senior lecturer in War Studies, researches gender and civil war with a special focus on Myanmar. She is currently working on a study that ex...
He wants to contribute to improving the work of the Armed Forces
One of Peter Thunholm's driving forces is to find new solutions that can improve the Armed Forces' operations, and his research has, among other things, laid the foundation for a new plannin...
“Information is the core of security policy”
As social media and digital channels make the news flow both faster and more readily available, it has become increasingly clear that information is an instrument of power. Charlotte Wagnsso...
“It feels very meaningful”
Gerry Larsson’s research mainly focuses on leadership and leadership development. He is the man behind a widely used leadership model known as Developmental Leadership, which has been used b...
Challenge in achieving profitability in innovation work
Michael Ekenstedt is an adjunct professor at the Department of Systems Science for Defence and Security. This means he splits his time between strategy and business development at Saab Dynam...
“Unique environment for research on gender, peace and security”
On 9 January 2019, Annick Wibben was appointed the Swedish Defence University’s first Anna Lindh Professor in Gender, Peace and Security. Her ambition is to create an environment for the exc...
How wars and conflicts affect the individual
The impact of war, conflicts or lack of security on the individual is the main theme of Mariam Bjarnesen's research. Drawing on ethnographic research traditions, she has conducted several fi...
He is looking to understand the nature and character of warfare
Jerker Widén is a Professor of War Studies at the Swedish Defence University. His research focuses on military theory with a focus on naval thinking. "My work is focused on analysing theori...
Curiosity leads the way
Linus Hagström, Professor of Political Science at the Swedish Defence University, has gone from a narrow research focus centered on Japanese foreign and security policy to a broader research...
"The full range of human behaviour"
Ann Enander's research on leadership and how people react in crisis and risk situations is a very current matter. Enander is one of the experts in the government-appointed Corona Commission...
From environmental policy to political philosophy
Ronnie Hjorth, Professor of Political Science at the Department of Political Science and Law, began his research career with a thesis on environmental policy. Now, his interest in political...
The law continues to fascinate him
Jann Kleffner's research revolves around various aspects of international operational law, including the law of armed conflict, the law on the use of force in international relations and hum...
A Professor of War Studies who likes peace
What does warfare in the future look like from a Swedish perspective? And what role will artificial intelligence and new technologies play for the work of the armed forces? These are some of...
"Disasters bring matters to a head""
Helena Hermansson researches collaboration and leadership in crises. She argues that collaboration is often seen as a universal solution in crisis and disaster management but emphasizes the...
RESEARCH NEWS
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Matthew Ford elected Fellow at the Royal Historical Society11 Mar 2025Matthew Ford, Associate Professor in War Studies at the Swedish Defence University, has been elected as a Fellow of the British Royal Historical Society.
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Magnus Ranstorp contributes to the EU's strategy for preventing violent extremism and radicalisation06 Mar 2025Magnus Ranstorp, Strategic Advisor and Associate Professor at the Centre for Societal Security, has been appointed as one of 15 international experts to join the EU Knowledge Hub on Preventi...
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SEK 1.9 million awarded for research on constitutional protection of public service media in peacetime, crisis and war27 Jan 2025Anni Carlsson, a Doctor of Constitutional Law at the Department of International and Operational Law, has been awarded a postdoctoral grant of approximately SEK 1.9 million by the Ragnar Söd...