European security is in a transformative era, marked by various challenges, including Russia’s hybrid tactics, the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, and ultimately its full-scale military invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In response, European states and security institutions have been urgently modifying their defence policies. A key aspect of this shift has been the (re)emergence of civil defence – in some form or another – as an increasingly important strategy to alleviate the various threats to societies, including that of war. This dissertation explores the development of civil defence in this changing security landscape from a multi-level perspective, focusing on national, regional, and international levels. Covering the period from 2015 to 2024, it examines Sweden’s civil defence policy, compares how Nordic and Baltic countries approach total defence, and analyzes the roles of NATO and the European Union in shaping civil defence efforts. In so doing, it maps the complex and
