ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that Swedish conscription is founded on gendered ideas tied to processes of collective identity formation around notions of nation, military security and self. It discusses how gendered dichotomies are evident in conscription practice and how they are connected to a gendered citizenship. Conscription was part of a bargaining process between the state and the male citizens for the acceptance of policies with extreme personal implications. The chapter focuses on Swedish nationalism and analyzes how the discourse on folkhemmet which is concerned with democratic values, finds expression in conscription practice. It builds on these arguments to discuss what the changes in the direction of Swedish security and defence strategies may imply for a post-modern military and particularly, its gender relations. The chapter shows that femininities of war are developing, partly because women are increasingly taken part in different types of militarized forces.
