This subproject examines how Sweden and Finland prepare their civil societies for crises and defense scenarios — two countries with different geostrategic positions but similar infrastructural challenges. Drawing on recent information brochures and civil defense exercises, it traces how crises have been communicated, security narrated, and mental health provision addressed since 1945. Central to the project is the question of how effective these measures are in the interplay of state and individual preparedness. Resilience is understood as the result of state responsiveness, adaptability, and innovation, enabling the population to act capably in times of crisis.