Legal framework for civil protection and preparedness

A functioning legal order forms the basis of a democratic state with rule of law. It must function even in situations of threats, crisis or war. A fragile legal order undermines not only public agencies’ capacities to act in situations of war or crisis, but also public trust. Today there exists no extensive mapping of the web of internatonal, regional and national legal norms applicable in Sweden in times of crisis or war. Neither does an analysis of how these norms will function in specifik crisis situations and especially in situations of accumulating and rapidly developing crises.

Our research group studies the civilian and military defence legislation and regulation in Sweden, Europe, and internationally. We analyse the legal regulations strengths and weaknesses with a special focus on the conditions, mandates and restrictions for public agencies and other societal actors. Based in these analyses the main purpose is to recommend future reforms of the legal framework.

The project “The legal framework for civil protection and preparedness” is pursued by the LaSE research group and financed by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) during 2020-2025.