All published articles in this category.
Syria recently held elections. An important step in strengthening the country's structures. Image: mariejirousek/Flickr
After decades of war and dictatorship, Syria went to the polls for the first time since the fall of Bashar al-Assad. According to the interim government, it is the beginning of a new political era. But many wonder whether anything will actually change.
October 23, 2025, Analysis, FUF-correspondents
90 percent of the buildings in Gaza are destroyed or damaged. Even those Gazans who are inside Gaza can be expected to live in camps for an extended period of time. Image: Hosny Sala/ Pixabay
President Donald Trump's peace plan for Gaza is being praised by the outside world, but the perspective and rights of refugees are conspicuous by their absence. That the same president who talks about peace for Gaza describes people on the run as "an attack on Western countries and their borders" rings hollow for Palestinians hoping to return home, writes FUF's Brussels correspondent Signe M. Andersson.
October 21, 2025, Analysis, FUF-correspondents
Sudan's 2018 revolution has turned into a civil war and one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. But grassroots Resistance Committees have taken responsibility where the state has failed, writes Associate Professor Maha Bashri. Photo: Maha Bashri / Manula Amin, Wikimedia Commons
Of: Maha Bashri
Iin the middle of Sudanese civil war, grassroot groups have taken on major responsibilities, such as distributing food and coordinating evacuations – as well as formulating a shared vision of a democratic future. To ensure this, gglobal actors black work with Sudan's civil society, writes Associate Professor Maha Bashri.
June 26, 2025, Guest analysis
The emphasis on peaceful protest is reflected in signs held up by protesters in Belgrade. The blue on the left reading "Freedom or nothing" and the heart on the right "Our struggle is gentle". Image: Civil Rights Defenders
Of: Milos Stankovic
As Serbia's EU aspirations face mounting challenges, students and Brussels speak with one voice. While President Vučić courts Moscow, Serbia's youth rally for rule of law, democracy, and justice. From mass protests to relay marathons, their movement echoes EU demands — just as Brussels warns that future accession hinges on reform, not rhetoric, writes Milos Stanovic, Program Officer at Civil Rights Defenders, Belgrade Office.
June 3, 2025, Guest analysis
UN Secretary-General António Guterres addresses the audience during a side meeting for small island states during the COP29 climate summit. Image: Commonwealth Secretariat/Flickr
Of: Nina Kedia
The eyes of the world are directed towards Baku in Azerbaijan, where the bran of the UNfood summit COP29 currently underway. Criticism has been directed at the choice of world country, a significant producer of oil and gas. The meeting is marked in addition by the absence of several leaders.
November 18, 2024, Analysis
Development economist Karl-Anders Larsson writes in a guest analysis for Utvecklingsmagasinet about what lessons development cooperation can learn from the recipients of this year's Sveriges Riksbank prize in economic science in memory of Alfred Nobel. Collage: Canva.
Has this year's Nobel laureate in economics found an answer to one of the world's biggest problems – that countries are stuck in poverty? Maybe not fully, but certainly their research should be important to everyone who deals with development issues and poverty alleviation, writes Karl-Anders Larsson, retired development economist and freelance writer.
November 4, 2024, Guest analysis
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico survived an assassination attempt on May 15 and is struggling to recover. Since he took office in October 2023, political tensions in Slovakia have increased, as his government implemented a series of controversial reforms that, according to the European Commission, threaten the rule of law in the country. Photo: European Council. Source: Flickr.
Of: Agnes Fältman
The assassination attempt against the pro-Russian Prime Minister Robert Fico has already left a deep mark and has become political dynamite in polarized Slovakia. With the upcoming EU elections, it is eagerly awaited what the recovering leader's next step will be - continued radicalization, or increased humility and tolerance towards dissenters?
May 27, 2024, Analysis, FUF-correspondents
Several armed conflicts plague Ethiopia and the country's economy is in crisis. The risk of a large-scale disaster is high. In a guest analysis, Pierre Frühling, who has worked with development issues for 40 years, writes about the ongoing conflicts in the country - and what can be done to curb them. Photo: Voice of America. Source: Garystockbridge.
Of: Pierre Frühling
The situation in Ethiopia is critical. There are several armed conflicts going on in the country, while food shortages are spreading and the economy is in crisis. The risk is great for mass starvation i tigray – the region that has been affected by en of today's bloodiest and most destructive wars. Without dialogue between leaders of the country different ethnic groups about how the borders should look between the regions and what kind of governance the country should have, it is difficult to see how any real peace can be achieved in Ethiopia. It writes Pierre springg, former diplomat, aid worker and journalist.
February 19, 2024, Analysis
A large number of new Israeli outposts in the West Bank and reclassification of land long used by Palestinians. Carl-Magnus Träff, political scientist and former companion in Israel and Palestine, believes that this is the reason why the companions are reporting more and more violations of human rights in the Jordan Valley. Pictured: The Israeli outpost near Ein Shibli. Photo: Carl-Magnus Träff.
After being out for three months as fbrewers in Palestine and Israel can I state that the development in the Jordan Valley, on the av Israel occupied The West Bank, is worrying. New Israeli outposts and reclassification of land makes it difficult to consider what is happening as anything other than annexation. It writes Carl-Magnus Träff, political scientist and former companion.
July 11, 2023, Guest analysis
In Lima, the capital of Peru, several ecosystems are threatened by the growing shantytowns. This has caused marginalized groups to be portrayed as a threat to biological diversity, writes Chakad Ojani, postdoctoral fellow in social anthropology at Uppsala University. Pictured: Improvised housing in southern Lima. Photo: Chakad Ojani.
Of: Chakad Ojani
In Peru's capital Lima, biodiversity is threatened by urbanization and the rapidly growing number of shantytowns. At the same time, the protection of unique ecosystems becomes a threat to the city's economically vulnerable residents. Environmental work must therefore cooperate with an uncompromising fight for equality and inclusion. It writes Chakad Ojani, postdoctoral fellow in social anthropology at Uppsala University.
February 2, 2023, Guest analysis