samhällshot

Samhällshot is a Swedish term for threats and hazards that can destabilize society or affect essential public functions. The concept covers conditions or events whose consequences may include injury, loss of life, damage to infrastructure, or economic disruption, and which require public authority response and societal resilience.

Threats are typically categorized as natural, technological or industrial, health-related, or societal and hybrid. Natural threats include extreme weather, floods, storms, droughts, and wildfires. Technological and industrial threats cover large-scale power outages, chemical or nuclear accidents, and major transport crashes. Health threats encompass pandemics and widespread disease. Societal and hybrid threats include terrorism, cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, disinformation campaigns, and coordinated civil disturbances.

In Sweden, samhalshot is central to risk and resilience planning. The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (Myndigheten för samhällsskydd och beredskap, MSB) coordinates risk assessments and emergency preparedness across sectors. Other authorities identify and protect critical societal functions such as energy supply, water, healthcare, food distribution, financial systems, information and communications technology, transport, housing, and social infrastructure. The concept underpins national risk management frameworks, municipal preparedness, and cross-sector collaboration.

Management of samhällshot involves systematic risk assessment and vulnerability analysis, followed by measures to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from incidents. This includes continuity planning, protective security, public communication, drills and exercises, and cooperation among government agencies, municipalities, businesses, and civil society. The aim is to reduce probability and mitigate consequences while maintaining essential services for society.

See also: risk assessment, civil protection, resilience, emergency preparedness.