Of: The Chancellery
New figures from the UNHCR show that more than 80 million people are currently on the run and that the number has more than doubled in the last ten years. This week, the debate has revolved around several aspects of flight and migration and several debaters believe that the rich countries in the world must take joint responsibility for the situation. Democracy and climate linked to the Chinese regime have also been debated and Swedish companies should stop assisting dictatorships in oppressing LGBTQI people.
June 21, 2021, Current debate
The young and popular President Nayib Bukele often wears a cap. Photo: CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Of: Hanne Karlsson
Since 2019, El Salvador has a new government, but the too-casual and trendy president has begun to show increasingly dictatorial sides. Several of the country's judges were recently dismissed and it undeniably looks like El Salvador is approaching an increasingly authoritarian government, something that Sweden should question, says Hanne Karlsson who is a student at the University of Gothenburg.
May 19, 2021, Debate
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani during press conference 2013. Photo: Meghdad Madadi
Of: Mona Monasar
Several debaters this week raised the question of how Sweden should act against dictatorships. For example, it has been 40 years since the Iranian theocratic regime came to power, which was noticed on SVT Opinion. The debater believes that Sweden and the EU should pursue a tougher line against dictatorships and stop giving in just to avoid conflict.
February 13, 2019, Current debate
Of: Lennart Wohlgemuth
When Sweden conducts development cooperation with undemocratic countries, we must choose whether we should cooperate with the state or not. If we are to be able to influence the development of another country in the long term, the only alternative is for us to have a close dialogue with the country, writes Professor Lennart Wohlgemuth.
January 16, 2018, Debate
Of: Daniel Rosell
Should Sweden really cut ties completely with dictatorships or try to influence them in a democratic direction? Even in a dictatorship like Azerbaijan, Swedish corporate collaborations can be a good way to open up to dialogue and then a seed for change, writes political scientist Daniel Rosell in a response to a debate article in Göteborgs-Posten.
December 15, 2017, Debate
Of: Gabriella Irsten
At the same time as the new regulations on arms exports have been delayed for several years, Sweden increased its exports of munitions by 45 percent in 2016. Swedish arms exports are not compatible with a feminist foreign policy and a majority of parliamentary parties say they want to stop arms exports to dictatorships. Now it's time to move on from words to action, writes Gabriella Irsten, International Women's Association for Peace and Freedom (IKFF).
March 13, 2017, Debate
Of: Henrik G Ehrenberg
The news that USAID has secretly given support to Cuban hip-hoppers could have been conveyed more thoughtfully by Ekot, Svergies Radio. An individual cultural effort for increased democracy may have the potential to giggle, but it is likely that the cultural worker who is prevented from having politically charged messages will hold back the giggle. It writes Henrik G Ehrenberg, KIC.
January 7, 2015, Debate
Of: Stone Rylander
At the same time as the development of democracy continues to be one of the most priority areas for development assistance, cultural support continues to decline. The reduced cultural assistance risks undermining the Swedish contribution to democratic development. That is the opinion of Sten Rylander, Forum Syd.
November 13, 2014, Debate
