Total Defence: Is the Nordic Model Relevant to Iceland?
How can Iceland draw on the experience of Finland and Sweden to strengthen national preparedness and societal resilience? This question will be at the centre of a seminar hosted by Bifröst University at Nordic House on 17 September, bringing together Icelandic and international experts to examine Nordic approaches to security and their potential relevance for Iceland.
Sweden and Finland have for decades developed systems designed to safeguard the security and functioning of society in times of crisis. In Sweden, Total Defence is a central part of this approach, based on the principle that national defence is not solely a military responsibility but depends on close cooperation between government, civilian institutions, the private sector and society as a whole. Finland has developed a closely related approach through its concepts of Comprehensive Security and security of supply.
These approaches extend well beyond conventional military threats. They address the protection of critical infrastructure, communications, energy and information systems, the resilience of supply chains, and society’s broader ability to withstand and recover from crises and disruption.
The seminar will explore the Nordic experience and ask whether – and how – these approaches could be applied in an Icelandic context.
Among the speakers is Dr Veronica Anghel, a political scientist at the European University Institute, who is currently working on the book Total Defence: An EU Grand Strategy for the 21st Century. Her research examines Total Defence and its potential role in a broader European security strategy. She is also editor of the annual Global Risks to the EU report, published by the European Union Institute for Security Studies.
From Finland, Axel Hagelstam, Director of International Affairs and Analysis at the National Emergency Supply Agency (NESA), will discuss how Finland’s preparedness and security-of-supply system works in practice. Hagelstam has extensive experience in security and preparedness in Finland and at the EU and NATO levels. He will examine how government, business and society work together to maintain essential functions and strengthen resilience in times of crisis.
From Sweden, Jan Lundin, Ambassador-designate of Sweden to Iceland, will offer a Swedish foreign and security policy perspective on Total Defence. Lundin has decades of experience in the Swedish Foreign Service, including serving as Sweden’s Ambassador to Serbia and as Director General of the Council of the Baltic Sea States Secretariat. His extensive experience in Nordic and European cooperation provides a valuable perspective on the role of Total Defence in a changing security environment.
The final presentation will be delivered by Jóhann B. Skúlason, Assistant Superintendent, Civil Protection and Emergency Management, National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police. Jóhann has extensive experience in civil protection, emergency response and coordination, and played a key role in managing the contact tracing team operated by Civil Protection and the Chief Epidemiologist during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, he received the Stjórnvísi Management Award in recognition of his leadership under challenging circumstances and has contributed to a wide range of projects in the fields of emergency preparedness and civil protection. Jóhann will bring an Icelandic perspective to the discussion on preparedness, resilience and Total Defence.
The symposium is part of the Jean Monnet Chair project Iceland’s Strategic Role in Arctic and European Security (ISARCEUR) at Bifröst University, led by Professor Magnús Skjöld, and is organised in cooperation with the Embassies of Sweden and Finland in Iceland.
Registration is required:
Total Defence and Comprehensive Security – Registration
📍 Nordic House
📅 17 September 2026
🕤 9:30–12:00
🌐 The event will be held in English
🎟️ Free admission - everyone is welcome