Sweden's emergency preparedness brochure "If Crisis or War Comes" has attracted significant international attention. Several countries are now developing their own versions based on the Swedish model.
Sweden and Norway stand alone in Europe for distributing emergency preparedness brochures twice in recent years. The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency has participated in multiple security conferences where officials highlight the brochure as a successful method for building public resilience.
Many foreign observers express admiration that Sweden mailed the brochure to every household. They also note how directly it addresses wartime scenarios.
"Many countries react to our openness about war," said Christina Andersson, the brochure's project manager at MSB. "We describe the consequences and necessary actions clearly. For many nations, this approach seems unthinkable."
The war in Ukraine and deteriorating security situation prompted many countries to create similar brochures. Extreme weather events like floods and forest fires also influenced this trend.
Sweden's direct approach to civil defense stands in stark contrast to most European nations. The country maintains its tradition of practical preparedness while others hesitate to discuss worst-case scenarios with their citizens.
This international interest demonstrates how security perceptions have shifted across Europe since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Nations that previously considered such preparedness measures alarmist now see them as necessary public safety tools.