Das Ziel bestimmt die Mittel. Das Wirken sten Undéns auf dem Weg zur schwedischen Neutralit tspolitik.

The Swedish policy of non-alliance aiming at neutrality in the event of war with all its contradictions and disputes continues to have an effect on societal debate in today’s Sweden. This article advocates a more accurate differentiation between historical processes and political assessments. It argues that this can be achieved by focussing on objectives set at that time as well as political outcomes resulting from the means chosen to achieve them rather than trying to compile moral benchmarks retrospectively. In order to exemplify this the article draws on the long-time Swedish foreign minister sten Undén whose work is considered formative for Swedens foreign and security policy during the Cold War. It is stated that by using this approach it is possible to solve some of the prevailing contradictions and to demonstrate a higher degree of continuity.