Article 1 in a series on practical civil preparedness for the Nordics
We live in one of the safest, wealthiest, most stable corners of the planet. And yet, for the first time in decades, that assumption is being openly questioned — not by alarmists on the fringes, but by heads of government, military chiefs, and intelligence agencies across Nordics and beyond.
Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine is now in its fourth year. Security in Sweden’s neighborhood has deteriorated dramatically in recent years, a sentiment echoed in Oslo, Helsinki, and Copenhagen. Norway recently published a new White Paper on Total Preparedness, with three main aims: preparing Norwegian society to deal with a crisis or war, to withstand hybrid attacks, and to augment military efforts. The fact that a peaceful, prosperous democracy like Norway feels compelled to write such a document tells you something important about the world we now inhabit. (Regjeringen.no, Government.se, Britain’s World)
And it isn’t just conventional warfare we need to think about. Cyberattacks on power grids, disinformation campaigns targeting public trust, sabotage of undersea cables, hybrid operations designed to destabilize societies from within, gas and diesel shortages — these are no longer theoretical. They are happening regularly across Europe and the Nordic region.
So what is Total Defense?
Finland and Sweden are known for their “total defense” approach to security, in which national defense is not only a task for the military but for the whole of society. The concept is straightforward: a nation’s resilience in the face of crisis or conflict depends not only on its armed forces, but on its infrastructure, its institutions, its businesses, and — critically — its individual citizens. (Boell)
Contemporary threats are diffuse, hybrid, and societal, spanning digital systems, information environments, economic networks, energy grids, and psychological cohesion. Defending against them requires a response that is equally broad. That means you. It means me. It means our neighborhoods, our employers, and our local communities. (Institute for Security and Development Policy)
The investment gap no one talks about
Governments across the Nordics are, to their credit, increasing defense spending. Norway’s defense budget for 2026 is NOK 180 billion. With the proposed increase in funding, defense spending is projected to reach 3.5% of Norway’s GDP by 2035. These are serious numbers, and they reflect a serious recognition of the threat environment. (Regjeringen)
But here is the uncomfortable truth: the bulk of that spending goes to military hardware — submarines, frigates, fighter jets, artillery. Every krone that goes to military purposes is a krone less for health, education, green transition, or civil preparedness. The civilian side of Total Defense — the preparedness of ordinary households, local communities, and small businesses — remains significantly underfunded and underemphasized relative to the scale of the challenge. (Peace Research Institute Oslo)
Meanwhile, the economic conditions facing most households in Norway and across the Nordics are not exactly making things easier. Years of high inflation, elevated interest rates, and rising costs of living have squeezed household budgets. In nominal terms, the average Nordic citizen is poorer than in 2021, and disposable income is lower now than it was just a few years ago. For as many as 90% of families in the Nordics, the idea of investing meaningfully in emergency preparedness competes with the mortgage, the grocery bill, and the electricity invoice. It rarely wins. Worse, in current circumstances, it is almost considered total madness. The discrepancy between what the authorities expect and what the average Nordic citizen actually does couldn’t be greater.
However, the DSB’s latest survey, published in February 2025, shows that more than 4 out of 5 Norwegians agree that households must be prepared to fend for themselves for a week without society’s help. Almost 7 out of 10 believe that the individual has a great or very large responsibility for dealing with the consequences of crises. The awareness is there. The follow-through, for most people, is not. (Direktoratet for samfunnssikkerhet og beredskap)
Why this series exists
The DSB’s director-general put it plainly: “Often when we speak about the whole of society, we forget the big piece: the individuals. If individuals take care of themselves, their families, and others, if everyone takes a bit of responsibility, the sum is much greater than what the government could achieve by spending money.” (Foreign Policy)
That is precisely the spirit of this article series.
Over the coming weeks, I will publish one article per week on practical, accessible aspects of Total Defense — with a clear focus on what ordinary people can actually do on a limited budget. No bunkers. No survivalist fantasies. No expensive gadgetry that only makes sense with unlimited funds.
The topics will include:
- Energy resilience — home solar, battery storage, and portable power solutions
- Communications — staying informed when the internet and mobile networks go down
- Water — storage, rainwater collection, and filtration at home
- Food reserves — building a practical two-week supply without breaking the bank
- Medical preparedness — what a real home first aid kit looks like
- Weapon training — rights, responsibilities, and the role of the armed citizen
- Community resilience — why your neighbors matter more than any gadget
- Hybrid threats — disinformation, cyber risks, and how to think clearly under pressure
- Systems architecture – how to architect systems built for resilience
Some of these topics will feel unfamiliar or even uncomfortable for a Nordic audience accustomed to trusting that the state will always be there. That trust is not misplaced — but it has limits, and the point of Total Defense is to understand and prepare for those limits.
Photo: Generated with WordPress AI
The question isn’t whether something will happen. It’s whether you’ll be ready.
The Nordic region has spent decades assuming that geography, wealth, and alliance membership were sufficient protection. A hard lesson has re-emerged: it is easier to maintain societal preparedness than to rebuild it. (Institute for Security and Development Policy)
We are in a rebuilding phase right now. Governments are stepping up. The question is whether citizens will too.
This series is my contribution to that effort — and I hope it becomes yours as well.
Views expressed are my own.
Next week: Article 2 — “What Would You Do in the First 72 Hours?” A realistic look at what a power outage, grid failure, or civil emergency would actually mean for your household — and the simple steps that make the biggest difference.
I write about TotalDefence, civil preparedness, and resilience from a Nordic perspective. Follow along for weekly posts every Wednesday. Questions, challenges, or additions are welcome in the comments.
This work, excluding photos, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
