War, peace and the image of Sweden
- Date
- 20 April 2026, 18:00–20:00
- Location
- Williams pub, Åsgränd 5C
- Type
- Cultural event
- Lecturer
- Therese Pettersson, Lars Trägårdh
- Organiser
- Institutet för bostads- och urbanforskning, Institutionerna för statsvetenskap, juridik samt freds- och konfliktforskning
- Contact person
- Emma Hallberg Gardell
Welcome to a pub night that combines discussions on thorny social issues with tricky quizzes. Join in the conversation and take the opportunity to beat some professors in the quiz!
Sweden has, particularly since the Second World War, seen itself as a country characterised by peace, internationalism and conflict resolution. But how accurate is that image? During the 1950s and 60s, Sweden built the world’s fourth-largest air force, and during the same period there were serious discussions about investing in Swedish nuclear weapons. And whilst we have spoken of hundreds of years of peace, Sweden has participated militarily in several international conflicts – sometimes not only as a peacekeeper but also with a mandate to support a party to the conflict.
Where do we stand today, and how does this complex legacy influence Sweden’s current self-perception as we face new threats, NATO membership and rearmament?
With Therese Pettersson and Lars Trägårdh
Pub evenings are free and open to everyone. Limited number of seats – if you want to eat and guarantee a seat for your quiz team, book a table in advance (please specify BILDNINGSPUBEN when booking)