Irregular Warfare—A Strategy for Small States?

Abstract

Based on the last decade’s changes concerning the strategic situation in Sweden’s surroundings, in combination with decreased resources to sustain a reasonable conventional defense force, it is most relevant to question the current military strategy. The intention of this chapter is to illuminate the potential for small states to improve the effect of their military, in peacetime, crises, and wartime, by adopting an irregular strategy to uphold deterrence and to withstand a military attack. The author elaborates on the logic for a small state to consider an indirect strategy and also to utilize the current conventional military force in new ways. Based on the last decade’s changes concerning the strategic situation in Sweden’s surroundings, in combination with decreased resources to sustain a reasonable conventional defense force, it is most relevant to question the current military strategy. The intention of this chapter is to illuminate the potential for small states to improve the effect of their military (in peacetime, crises, and wartime) by adopting an irregular strategy to uphold deterrence and to withstand a military attack.