Citation

Hedlund E. Armed Forces Soc. 2011; 37(1): 180-190.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0095327X10372597

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

During the last ten years, the Swedish Armed Forces has undergone a transformation in its shift toward worldwide peacekeeping operations. Subsequently, the Swedish government is moving away from conscription to an all-voluntary recruitment system. This transition may lead to substantial challenges in recruiting new soldiers for the Armed Forces as well as for peacekeeping operations. A key to successful recruitment is understanding what motivates young men and women to participate in peacekeeping operations. This research note addresses questions about what motivated Swedish peacekeeping soldiers to join the 5th mission to Liberia and the 14th mission to Kosovo in 2006. Fabrizio Battistelli’s motivation typology, paleomodern, modern, and postmodern, is used in the analysis. The results show that all three motives were represented but that postmodern motives were by far the most common motivator.