Since 2022, Hungary can no longer be considered a full-fledged democracy. The political and economic development in the country has meant that many young and highly educated people choose to leave. Photo: Agnes Fältman.
Of: Agnes Fältman
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Fidesz, the nationalist ruling party, has over the past decade systematically dismantled the country's democratic institutions. In an increasingly harsh economic and political climatemany young and highly educated Hungarians choose to move abroad. What can attract them back? Can liberal winds blowing across former nationalist ally Poland bring hope for change?
February 26, 2024, FUF-correspondents, Report
Last week, the war in Ukraine entered its third year. With that, debaters demanded, among other things, increased military support for Ukraine and tougher sanctions against Russia. Photo: President of Ukraine. Source: Flickr.
Of: The Chancellery
Last week it was two years since Russia began his full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which characterized the Swedish opinion pages. Several debaters believed that Sweden, the EU and the world must do more to end the war.
February 26, 2024, Current debate
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
During the past week, among other things, the future of the EU has been discussed on Swedish debate and editorial pages, due to the upcoming elections to the European Parliament this summer. Photo: European Parliament. Source: Wikimedia commons.
Of: Ida Nilsson and Adam Hansen
Ahead of the upcoming European Parliament elections, which fall in June this year, the debate about Sweden's role in the EU and the Union's future is increasing. The Center Party demands that the EU introduce financial penalties for countries that do not live up to the goals for climate change, while the Sweden Democrats advocate a restructuring of EU policy and strengthened decision-making at the national level. Even the Russian one opposition politician Alexey Navalny's death has been noticed in the debate during the past week.
February 19, 2024, Current debate
Over 1 artists - including Eric Saade, Robyn and Timbuktu - want to exclude Israel from Eurovision, citing the country's war in Gaza. But the artists' appeal has drawn criticism on, among other things, Dagens Nyheter's editorial page. Photo (left): WAfa/APAimages. Source: Wikimedia commons. Photo (right): AnnCatrin Blyckerts. Source: Wikimedia commons.
Of: Ina Carlsson and Fleur Riller Lendemar
As the European music competition Eurovision song contest approaches, voices around the world have been raised calling for Israel to be removed from the contest - due to the war in Gaza. In a debate article, over 1 artists call the television union EBU for double standards, and Israel's participation in Eurovision for a "trivialization" of violations of international law. Dagens Nyheter's editorial board, on the other hand, believes that it is not hypocritical at all to want to boycott Russia but let Israel into the music competition.
February 12, 2024, Current debate
On Tuesday, State Secretary Diana Janse answered questions about, among other things, the government's support for Swedish civil society, the reduced core support to the UN and the priority that aid should benefit Swedish interests. Photo: FUF.
Of: The Chancellery
The government's changes in Sweden's aid policy mean, among other things, an increased focus on trade, migration and Ukraine. But the changes have provoked reactions, not least from civil society organisations. So how does the government actually view the role of Swedish civil society in development cooperation? And why has it been chosen to reduce nuclear support to the UN in a world filled with crises? These were some of the issues that were discussed during FUF's conversation with Diana janse, State Secretary to the Minister for Aid and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell (M).
February 7, 2024, News
In May 2023, a strict anti-gay law came into effect in Uganda. This has drastically changed the lives of many LGBTQI people in the country, who have either had to flee there or risk facing oppression and persecution at home. Development magazine has spoken to two of them. Photo credit: John Cyprian.
Of: Ellinor Berglund
2023 Uganda's parliament passed a strict bill om hharsher punishments for LGBTQI people, which The development magazine reported on. Despite international criticism, the law finally came into force in May – which has put LGBTQI people and activists in the country in an even more vulnerable position than before. Development magazine has spoken to John Cyprian and Rebecca N Naava - two ¥ Ugandan LGBTQI people who have both been affected by the change in the law.
- I'm keeping my fingers crossed that LGBTQI people in Uganda will feel safe, because it's hell there out, saygives John Cyprian.
February 5, 2024, Report
Is it right or wrong for Sweden to stop humanitarian aid to UNRWA? This has been discussed by several debaters over the past week. Photo on the left: UNIS Vienna. Pictured: Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General UNRWA. Source: Flickr. Photo (right): Axel Öberg. Pictured: Sweden's Minister for Aid and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell (M). Source: Flickr.
Of: Benjamin Frisk and Fatima Shek Behi
During the past week, several countries, including Sweden and the Swedish aid agency Sida, stopped humanitarian aid to the UN aid organization for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA. The background is that 12 employees at UNRWA suspected of involvement in Hamas attack on Israel on October 7. But Swedish debaters have disagreed on whether it is right or wrong to withdraw support for UNRWA.
February 5, 2024, Current debate
The world's largest lithium reserves are found in the so-called lithium triangle in South America. China's influence over the continent is increasing – among other things, by the country investing in the extraction of minerals. Pictured: Lithium mine in Jujuy province, Argentina. Photo: Earthworks. Source: Flickr.
Of: Daniel Diaz
In step with the green transition and the increased production of electric cars, the world is hungry for the "white gold" - lithium. Latin America could become a geopolitical projection surface as economic superpowers fight over access to lithium, and this could have consequences for both the environment and people.
January 29, 2024, Development magazine explains
Turkey has approved Sweden's NATO application, but Hungary wants to negotiate membership. This was one of the topics that characterized the debate on the opinion pages last week. Photo on the left: European Parliament. Source: Flickr. Photo on the right: Mikhail Klimentyev. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Of: Edvin Borg and Rania Yassin
On January 23, Turkey's parliament approved Sweden's NATO application. This marked the Swedish ones the debate and leader pages under the past week, and several debaters reasoned, among other things, about whether the membership has been discussed sufficiently or not. Even Richard Jomshof's (SD) statement to ban Muslim symbols raisede reactions during the week.
January 29, 2024, Current debate
