What to do in case of crisis or war ?

This is in no way intended to be alarmist or pessimistic!

I just find it interesting for our non-Swedish friends to know what is in this brochure distributed between 1943 and 1991 and then again since 2018 on an annual basis, to all Swedish households. The same thing exists in Finland, the Baltics and Germany.

The fact that the equivalent does not exist in France or in Southern Europe is undoubtedly linked to the impression that no conflict is taking place in sufficient proximity to fear repercussions on our territories. But more generally, it is perhaps also a question of pragmatism which has always encouraged Northern societies not to hesitate to discuss or prepare for the possibility of a crisis.

The links to access the brochure are:

in French

https://lastkaj.msb.se/Broschyren-Om-krisen-eller-kriget-kommer/brochure-sweden-french.pdf

in English

https://www.ctif.org/sites/default/files/news_files/2018-06/om-krisen-eller-kriget-kommer---engelska.pdf

It's an interesting read, and I'll let you take a look.

One thing that struck me is the object that we should all have at home in all circumstances... Try to guess, the answer is at the bottom of this post... ;)

Instead of recounting what's in the brochure, a recent interview in Dagens Industri, a Swedish financial daily, with military experts gave some very interesting and sometimes counterintuitive insights into what to expect in a crisis. Some behaviors discussed may be related to cultural issues but overall they appear to be quite generalized.

Forget chaos and anarchy: good neighbors are more important than canned goods.

“Cassandras” and “preppers” have long advised having food supplies and evacuation backpacks ready to use in the event of war.

But now that there is a real threat to Sweden, few people know how to really react. You should know that collective awareness of the possibility of war (in this case with Russia) is only very recent, and dates back to the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

David Bergman, Lieutenant Colonel, Doctor of psychology and researcher at the Swedish Higher Military School, has just released a book entitled: "Who are you if war comes?"

He considers that the question which is the basis of mental preparation is to accept the idea that it could happen.

There are many balanced and talented “preppers” out there, but that culture itself is often harmful and can be counterproductive, because it is individualistic and dystopian. This assumes that society collapses under stress – but this is very rarely the case.

Aside from the military, reservists, health professionals, police or firefighters, civil security etc., he recommends that everyone continue life as usual, so that society itself continues to live, which is often the biggest challenge.

“We need people to make sure everyone gets their pay and that stores stay open so everyone can shop, for example.”

"On an individual level because that's where you feel the best. Work is where you have your colleagues and structure, and you can achieve this better if you have a sense of security in everyday things and actions, like eating something good in the evening. Routines exist for a reason, it's the best way to manage stress."

On the other hand, identifying your own strengths and weaknesses in order to understand what place each person can take in a group in order to best contribute, is a question to ask yourself.

He is generally optimistic about the documented behavior of individuals, groups and societies in times of war and considers that there are 3 myths around the latter:

✓ ANARCHY

Myth: Society will collapse under the strain.

Truth: The greater the stress, the more social structures tend to strengthen and people become more united.

✓ PANIC

Myth: People lose self-control and behave irrationally and antisocially.

Truth: Pure panic is rare and usually occurs when people feel helpless without the support of a group, such as when they are oppressed by a crowd or literally underwater. People typically respond to threats by gathering information, finding alternatives, and acting deliberately.

✓ LOOTING

Myth: War and disasters lead to lawlessness and criminal behavior such as looting and theft.

Truth: Looting is extremely rare, but the belief that it will occur is strong, influencing people's expectations, media reporting and government management, which in turn creates a vicious cycle.

In short, "in times of war, we tend to come together for the good of the group in society and adapt, despite increased stress. Crime tends to decrease in conflicts," he says.

The object to always have at home...:

Yes, an internet or electricity outage would quickly leave us without communication with the outside world... A good battery-powered radio will always allow us to know where the situation stands. When the Swedish authorities republished the brochure in 2018, it took only 2 weeks to no longer find a single one in stores, the socks being sold out... :)