The naivety towards China is now over : An analysis of the Swedish political elite's changed attitude toward China

Abstract: Despite the well-established consensus within the Swedish parliament regarding the benefits of trade with China while at the same time promoting democracy, an unexpected change arose in June 2023, when a united Swedish parliament adopted a report that identified China as a threat to Swedish interests. Consequently, this thesis seeks to address the research question: Can the Swedish political elite's changed attitude towards China be understood through the theory of ontological security? Employing a framework established in Robert J. Steele's interpretation of the ontological security theory, this thesis aims to understand this shift in attitude through a discourse analysis. By analyzing parliamentary bills, documents, and speeches delivered by the Swedish political elite, the analysis reveals a gradual transformation in the attitudes of Swedish Members of Parliament. This transformation is traced back to the prolonged imprisonment of Gui Minhai and the appointment of a new Chinese ambassador in 2017. The findings suggest that Sweden's altered stance towards China serves the purpose of reinforcing biographical narratives and safeguarding Swedish ontological security. In conclusion, this thesis presents one possible understanding of why Sweden adopted a harsher attitude against China.