During his official visit to Germany for the Berlin Security Conference, Carl-Oskar Bohlin, Minister for Civil Defence of Sweden, will speak at the Hertie School to discuss the concept of civil defence as well as Sweden’s role in NATO.
Since 2018, global conditions have significantly worsened. Conflicts are escalating, extreme weather events are becoming increasingly frequent, and threats such as terrorism, cyberattacks, and disinformation, are omnipresent. Against this backdrop, Sweden has chosen to join the NATO defence alliance, and the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), under the Swedish Ministry for Civil Defence, has been tasked with producing an updated version of the booklet "Om krisen eller kriget kommer" (If Crisis or War Comes).
The updated booklet outlines essential actions to take during periods of heightened alert, including guidance on protective measures during military attacks, items to bring during evacuations, and strategies for managing anxiety. Mailings to the entire Swedish population will begin on 18 November.
Programme:
2:30 pm: Welcome by Cornelia Woll, President, Hertie School
2:35 pm: Introduction by Marina Henke, Director, Centre for International Security
2:40 pm: Keynote address by Carl-Oskar Bohlin, Swedish Minister for Civil Defence
3:00 pm: Moderated Q&A with Marina Henke
3:30 pm: End of event
Capacity for this event is limited. Please register to attend.
Speakers
Keynote speaker
Carl Oskar Bohlin is the Swedish Minister for Civil Defence, serving since 2022. His responsibilities include leading and coordinating the strategic development of Sweden’s civil defence, which spans all ten sectors of society. The Swedish civil defence aims to maintain vital societal functions, funnel support to the military in times of armed conflict, and ensure the protection of the civilian population during such events. Additionally, the Minister’s duties encompass cybersecurity policies and combating disinformation. Bohlin holds the first dedicated civil defence ministerial role since the end of the Second World War.
Before his current position, Bohlin served as a member of parliament for 12 years, including time as a deputy member on the Justice Committee. He later chaired the Committee on Industry and Trade, where he was responsible for developing new energy policies that later formed the foundation of the current government’s energy policy.
Moderator
Marina Henke is Professor of International Relations at the Hertie School and Director of the Centre for International Security. She researches and publishes on grand strategy, nuclear security and European security and defence policy. Before joining the Hertie School, she was an Associate Professor (with tenure) at Northwestern University, specialising in international relations, as well as at Princeton University where she was a Lecturer and Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. She holds a PhD in Politics and Public Policy from Princeton University, a Double Master of Science in Development Studies and International Political Economy from Sciences Po Paris and the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Politics and Latin American Studies from Sciences Po Paris. Her book “Constructing Allied Cooperation” published with Cornell University Press in 2019 won the prestigious 2020 Lepgold Best Book Award, the ISA 2020 Diplomacy section Best Book Award, and the APSA 2020 International Collaboration section Best Book Award.