Resilience is everywhere, but what does it mean? A study of the use of the term resilience in Swedish public policy

Abstract

Resilience has become a prominent term in both academic and political contexts, though its use remains controversial. It often carries normative connotations of flexibility, adaptation, and recovery from external shocks, which can influence political practices. Some critics view resilience as a means of dispersing governmental responsibility and linking it to neoliberal agendas. In our study of the Swedish case, we use a multidimensional framework to examine resilience across environmental politics, crisis management, and total defence. We find that resilience is employed differently across these fields, which often conflict, and that its meaning has evolved over time within each. The tension inherent in resilience—between adaptation and resistance—complicates efforts to unify its application in policies. Overall, the concept’s varying interpretations and its contrasting implications demonstrate the complexities involved in integrating resilience into political and policy frameworks.