In recent years, the global geopolitical landscape has seen significant shifts, prompting renewed focus on national defence. We aim to answer the questions: How are pupils in an upper secondary school in Sweden willing to participate in the total defence? What factors contribute to their willingness to defend? And what patriotism do they express in relation to the willingness to defend? This thesis explores the willingness to defend among youth in Sweden, focusing on upper secondary school students. Using a single case study design, the research aims to understand the factors young people want to protect and the forms of patriotism that influence young people's willingness to defend. Data was collected through focus group discussions and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Patriotism is the theory, which is operationalised with the three concepts of willingness to defend: general willingness to defend, personal willingness to defend and supportive willingness to defend.

This study contributes to existing research by providing an understanding of what effects young people’s willingness to defend. The findings suggest that young people would protect Sweden in a crisis and are motivated by factors such as family, the country, and the population. Extreme, moderate, and cosmopolitan patriotism was expressed by young people in different contexts of willingness to defend.