A1 Journal article (refereed)
Legitimacy of Conscription in Democracy : Connections between Conscription Politics and Public Opinion in Parliamentary Debates in Finland and Sweden in the 2010s (2022)


Kaarkoski, M., & Häkkinen, T. (2022). Legitimacy of Conscription in Democracy : Connections between Conscription Politics and Public Opinion in Parliamentary Debates in Finland and Sweden in the 2010s. Journal of Political and Military Sociology, 49(2), 195-218. https://doi.org/10.5744/jpms.2022.2004


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editorsKaarkoski, Miina; Häkkinen, Teemu

Journal or seriesJournal of Political and Military Sociology

ISSN0047-2697

eISSN2642-2190

Publication year2022

Publication date17/03/2023

Volume49

Issue number2

Pages range195-218

PublisherUniversity Press of Florida

Publication countryUnited States

Publication languageEnglish

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.5744/jpms.2022.2004

Publication open accessNot open

Publication channel open access


Abstract

Conscription is a political institution that may socialize individuals to acquire such values as a sense of patriotism and duty toward state. In democratic countries, public support for conscription is vital. In this article we study the effects of public opinion on Swedish and Finnish politics from 2008 to 2010 and from 2017 to 2021. Based on an analysis of political language, we argue that the use of such language is central to seeking legitimacy for controversial issues. To that end, political discussions and interpretations of public opinion are central ways of creating and legitimizing policy. By conducting a qualitative, conceptual, and contextual analysis of digitized parliamentary documents in Sweden and Finland, this article suggests that in both countries political elites have spoken about public opinion to support the crafting of defense policy, particularly when speaking about the necessity to reform conscription so as to maintain citizens’ engagement with defense and their acceptance of conscription as a core institution of national defense.


Keywordsconscriptionpublic opinionnational defencedefence policysecurity policy

Free keywordsconscription; Finland; Sweden; public opinion


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Ministry reportingYes

VIRTA submission year2023

JUFO rating1


Last updated on 2024-15-06 at 22:07