Almedalen's final day: quieter scenes and the limits of democracy

On the last day of Almedalen, Ebba Busch (KD) and Nooshi Dadgostar (V) raised the world situation – from Gaza to Ukraine – and emphasized the importance of international law, democracy and security policy. Photos: Anna Sjöberg Tibblin

Of: Anna Sjöberg Tibblin

FUF is in place in Almedalen! Every day we publish a short summary of the previous day with a focus on global issues.

June 28, 2025, Almedalen - current, News

Beyond the Battlefield: The Grassroots Networks Sustaining Sudan

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 organizations about development aid settlements: "The outside world is losing confidence in Sweden"

The umbrella organization CONCORD organized a breakfast mingling during the Almedal week to run the campaign #RäddaBiståndet on the streets of Visby together with various member organizations. Photo: Christina Wassholm, CONCORD Sweden.

Of: Hibo Yusuf Ahmed

Sweden's settlements on aid meant 40 percent cut annual budgets for several civil society organizations and their partner operations. Utvecklingsmagasinet has interviewed five organizations that warn that their partner organizations are losing confidence in Sweden and finding it difficult to maintain their work against, among other things, child marriage and female genital mutilation.

July 21, 2022, Almedalen - article, Reportage

Nicaragua bans 25 organizations: "an attack on civil society"

On April 20, Nicaragua's parliament shut down 25 NGOs. Since the mass protests against President Daniel Ortega's government in 2018 triggered a political crisis, more than 165 civil society organizations have been banned by the government. Photo: Ismael Francisco / CELAC Cuba. Source: Flickr.

Of: Linnea Ljungar

Nicaragua's parliament, which is controlled by allies of President Daniel Ortega, shut down 20 NGOs on April 25, several of which work on human rights and social issues. The opposition believes that this is another attack on civil society.

April 29, 2022, Notis

Indian civil society organizations face digital challenges during the pandemic

Kunal Anerao stands in a circle of students from Parsharam Wadi School, a school outside the town of Devrukh in the Indian countryside. Photo: Frida Viklund Rundgren

Of: Frida Viklund Rundgren

Covid-19 poses new challenges for the Indian environmental organization Srushtidnyan, whose school project has been allowed to continue online. Environmental work with farmers has stopped, but the organization hopes for an increased interest in organic farming methods when migrant workers return to their home villages to invest in agriculture. Positive changes can also be seen when the government has opened up for increased cooperation with civil society organizations in vulnerable areas.

February 11, 2021, Interview

Feminist perspectives on the climate crisis are needed for a fair future 

Civil society is important for driving changes in attitudes and influencing public opinion, but cannot take full responsibility. Photo: 2014 Peoples' Climate March NYC 85 by Stephen D. Melkisethian under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 

Of: Frida Viklund Rundgren

Women - especially in low-income countries - are hardest hit by climate change. A report from CONCORD shows the need for a rights-based strategy to strengthen the link between gender equality and sustainable development. Progress has been made through Sweden's feminist foreign policy, but increased cooperation is needed at all levels of society. 

January 18, 2021, Reportage

Peace is at stake when contributions to youth organizations decrease

Reducing aid and grants to youth organizations is dangerous for both peace and democracy, writes Emelie Weski. Photo: Thomas Ulrich, Pixabay

Of: Emelie Weski

The organization of young people is one of the most effective preventive measures against armed conflict. This is confirmed by an independent report from the UN Population Fund. To stop financing young people's organization is to counteract sustainable peace. The Social Democrats, the Moderates and the Sweden Democrats get homework, writes Emelie Weski from LSU.

November 18, 2019, Debate

Trade unions are crucial to world peace and security

Demonstration for better living conditions in Tunisia

In Tunisia, the unions played a crucial role in reducing tensions after the Arab Spring, writes debater Ruben Wågman. Photo: Gilbert Scossar and private

Of: Ruben Wågman

Through the work for decent wages, social security, and the pursuit of dialogue, democratic unions have a unique ability to work for peace and prevent conflict. It shows examples from Sudan, Tunisia, South Korea and Brazil, among others. More voices and actors, both in Sweden and in the world, need to stand up for people's right to organize and work in a union.

October 29, 2019, Debate

The government's investment in democracy creates discussion

Democratic space is shrinking at the global level. The government therefore wants to invest in democracy and increase democracy assistance. Photo: Pixabay

Of: Alice Agneus

Sweden's foreign policy must invest extra in safeguarding democracy. That was the message from the new government that came into place in January this year. But what does this mean for Sweden's aid actors? Sida's Birgitta Weibahr and Diakonia's Magnus Walan talk about their views on the matter.

July 12, 2019, News

Democratic aid to Cambodia is not in vain

Civil society in Cambodia has been strengthened with the help of Swedish aid. That is the opinion of the debaters who have evaluated 20 years of aid to the country.

Of: Henny Andersen, Joakim Öjendal and Karl-Anders Larsson

Swedish democracy aid has had a positive influence in Cambodia, despite the country's government becoming increasingly authoritarian. It is written by Henny Andersen, Karl-Anders Larsson and Joakim Öjendal, authors of a unique study that looks at support over a 20-year period.

June 25, 2019, Debate