The central question guiding the conversation was:
How can home preparedness be made simple, achievable, and reasonable from a systemic perspective?

Background

Despite repeated recommendations, surveys in Sweden - including those conducted by the Center for Security and Resilience's (CfSR) founding partner, the Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency (MCF), as well as research in neighboring countries by CfSR-affiliated researcher Ieva Birka - show that a large share of the population lacks adequate emergency preparedness at home.

Preparedness Dialogue at the Stockholm School of Economics, hosted by the Center for Security and Resilience (CfSR). Photo: Johanna Ståhlberg

Following several extensive information campaigns, it can be assumed that awareness is no longer the main barrier. Instead, the focus must shift toward implementation.

If access to information is already high, the key question becomes: how can systems make it easier for individuals to act?

For example, if food and water are critical resources, how can access to and storage of these essentials be simplified in everyday life?

The event

Staffan Holmberg, Executive Director of CfSR, opening the dialogue. Photo: Johanna Ståhlberg

The session was hosted by CfSR Executive Director Staffan Holmberg and opened with a keynote by Christina Andersson from the Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency (MCF).

Christina Andersson works with risk communication and has played a key role in several national preparedness initiatives. She initiated Preparedness Week in 2017 and served as project manager for the brochures “If Crisis or War Comes” (2018 and 2024).

Her work spans both national and EU levels, focusing on strengthening public resilience and contributing to a stronger culture of preparedness.

Christina Andersson from the Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency (MCF) delivering the keynote on risk communication and preparedness. Photo: Johanna Ståhlberg

Following the keynote, a panel discussion brought together perspectives from retail, behavioral science, and housing:

• Magnus Wassén, ICA retailer and board member of the ICA Retailers’ Association and Svensk Handel
• Niklas Laninge, psychologist and behavioral finance expert at Opti
• Håkan Andersson, Head of Housing Policy at Riksbyggen

The panel explored how structural conditions influence individual preparedness and how barriers to action can be reduced.

The discussion was followed by an open dialogue with participants, examining the balance between individual responsibility and systemic constraints, as well as identifying ways to remove barriers to preparedness.

Panel discussion bringing together perspectives from retail, behavioral science, and housing. Photo: Johanna Ståhlberg

About the Preparedness Dialogue series

The Preparedness Dialogue series is a small-format forum hosted by CfSR, bringing together around 20 participants under Chatham House Rules.

The format combines keynote presentations, panel discussions, and open dialogue to foster constructive and informed conversations on key issues related to Swedish total defence.

The next Preparedness Dialogue will take place at the Stockholm School of Economics on May 25, 2026, and will focus on shelters.

For more information, please contact Staffan Holmberg at:
staffan.holmberg@hhs.se

The dialogue fostered exchange between researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. Photo: Johanna Ståhlberg