Week 14: Debaters critical of aid being used for refugee reception

"If Sweden is to continue to be seen as a pioneering country in development aid, we must be prepared to lead - not by creatively trying to circumvent the main purpose of development aid." Several leaders of Swedish aid organizations write about the government's announcement that Sweden's refugee reception should be able to be deducted from the aid. Pictured: informal settlements in Yemen. Photo: EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid. Source: Flickr.

Of: Fanny Andersson and Julia Lundén Azzeddine

The leadership continues to be largely dominated by political consequences stemming from Russia's war against Ukraine. But now voices are also beginning to be raised about Swedish development assistance and the need to also focus on other humanitarian issues.

April 11, 2022, Current debate

Week 13: "More sanctions against Russia - now"

Torbjörn Becker, head of the Institute of Eastern Economics at the Stockholm School of Economics, calls on the western world to introduce new, tougher sanctions against Russia's leadership. "Sanctions against oil could run out of Putin's money," he wrote. Photo: DimitroSevastopol. Source: Pixabay.

Of: Hibo Yusuf Ahmed and Samira Issa

Why the Western world must increase sanctions against Russia and how Sweden's potential NATO accession can put peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in a critical situation has been debated over the past week.

April 4, 2022, Current debate

Week 12: Debaters disagree about Sweden's refugee reception

"This is a new situation than in 2015, and it is important not to repeat the mistake of trying to backtrack or tighten or pull out." The environmentalists Maria Ferm, Rasmus Ling and Annika Hirvonen write this in a debate article about Sweden's refugee reception. Pictured: Syrian refugees crossing the border between Hungary and Austria on their way to Germany, 2015. Photo: Mstyslav Chernov. Source: Wikimedia commons.

Of: Angel Collin and Lina Kallio

Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues to dominate the media. The war has led to a debate about who should be considered refugees and when economic sanctions should be used.

March 28, 2022, Current debate

Week 11: Debaters pay tribute to civil society's reception of refugees from Ukraine

Demonstration in solidarity with the Ukrainian people in London, one of many similar protests in the world against the war in Ukraine. Photo: Alisdare Hickson. Source: Flickr.

Of: Wilma Sörman Ivarzon

Last week, several debaters praised the support of Swedish civil society to help Ukrainian refugees, while the Swedish Migration Board is accused of lack of responsibility. Sweden's attitude towards NATO and the Swedish civil defense was also discussed on the debate pages.

March 24, 2022, Current debate

Week 10: Debaters disagree on possible NATO membership

Sweden's possible entry into NATO has continued to be a major discussion on Swedish debate and leadership pages during the past week. Pictured: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Photo: NATO, North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Source: Flickr.

Of: Frida Lindberg and Julia Carlzon

Last week's debate was also marked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In addition to the question of a Swedish entry into NATO and the dependence on Russian natural gas, the climate issue has also found a place in the discussion.

March 14, 2022, Current debate

Week 9: "This is Putin's war. Not Olga and Ivans ”

Hundreds of thousands of refugees have crossed the Ukrainian border, which has sparked debate about refugee reception in Sweden and in the EU. Photo: Mirek Pruchnicki. Source: Flickr.

Of: Markus Hietanen

Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine continues to dominate the news flow. Debaters and lead writers have, among other things, discussed Swedish arms support, an impending refugee crisis, the conflict's connection to the climate crisis and how ordinary Russians end up in trouble with the war.

March 7, 2022, Current debate

Week 8: Debaters react to Russia's invasion of Ukraine

People all over the world have protested against Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Photo: Victoria Pickering, from a demonstration in Washington. Source: Flickr.

Of: Sigrid Wernersson and Villemo Warnerfjord

More support for Ukraine, sports boycotts and open hearts. How Sweden and the EU should act on Russia's invasion of Ukraine has shaped the debate over the past week.

February 28, 2022, Current debate

Week 7: EU can stop subsidizing undemocratic member states

Victor Orbán's Hungary is one of the countries that has opposed the EU imposing stricter democratic and legal conditions for the disbursement of EU funds. Photo: European Parliament. Source: Flickr. Link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/european_parliament/6720478185

Of: Elise Olsson and Idun Eklind

Last week's debate has, among other things, discussed the EU's decision to withdraw subsidies for countries that do not comply with the rule of law - and what this could mean for regimes such as Poland and Hungary. Furthermore, several debaters have criticized the Green Party's statement that investments in nuclear power can cause uranium dependence on Russia.

February 21, 2022, Current debate

Week 6: Criticism of investing in nuclear power - could make Europe more dependent on Russia

Sweden imports nuclear fuel from Russia, something that the MP uses as an argument against M, KD, L and SD's willingness to invest heavily in nuclear power. Photo: Canva.

Of: Elise Olsson

The Swedish nuclear debate has become a security issue linked to Russia and Putin's influence over Europe. At the same time, debaters have over the past week raised that in the shadow of the crisis in Ukraine, Russia's influence risks even taking root in Belarus.

February 14, 2022, Current debate

Week 5: The Winter Olympics spark debate on human rights and China's pandemic

When China hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics, protests were raised against the country's handling of human rights. The fact that the country is now organizing the Winter Olympics has also created reactions. Photo: Kris Krüg. Source: Flickr.

Of: Melanie Alphonse

Last week, the Winter Olympics in China kicked off, something that has sparked debate about the country's handling of human rights. Russia's continued influence on Swedish and European security policy has also been discussed on Swedish debate and leadership pages during the past week.

February 7, 2022, Current debate