Article: Chasing subs. (Capitals: Stockholm).(perceptions of national security in Sweden)(Brief Article)

Before September 11, the Swedish civil defense was mostly wondering what to do with itself. The cold war was over and there seemed little need any longer to keep a wary eye on neighboring Russia. Indeed, Defense Minister Bjorn von Sydow was more interested in involving his department in programs to help improve infrastructure, clean up the environment, and generally improve living conditions in the former Soviet Union. To help move things along the defense and foreign ministries set up a joint group, a clear sign that civil preparedness had spread beyond military considerations.

Surprisingly little has changed since the terrorist attacks. Officially, security in ...