When the liberator becomes the oppressor
COLUMN. Without any evidence of guilt, suspected SWAPO members were executed by their party colleagues, and warnings of terror were dismissed by the international solidarity movement as anti-SWAPO propaganda. Today, the perpetrators are celebrated as heroes, once again adding insult to injury to the surviving victims, writes author and researcher Henning Melber. This is a …
Development Sweden #73. Outrage as Swedish aid to Myanmar is phased out
Sweden has decided to phase out development cooperation with yet another country, this time its Myanmar. Civil society and opposition call the decision shameful as the support to human rights activists will come to an end. Also, in this issue of Development Sweden, former minster for Development cooperation Gunilla Carlsson appointed to the board of the …
Should governments pay businesses for climate disasters?
In South Africa, two insurance companies which had to pay out to flooded businesses are now suing South African state entities for damages. They argue that the government was negligent in maintaining stormwater infrastructure. If they succeed, it could open the door to more climate-related claims against governments. The most catastrophic natural disaster ever recorded …
Development Sweden #72. Is Sida breaching Swedens fundamental law on freedom of expression?
is Sida breaching the Swedish fundamental laws on freedom of expression when the agency starts to monitor CSO social media account for signs of Islamism and other things? Also, in this issue of Development Sweden: The Stockholm International Water Institute SIWI is making a new start, will it work? Development Sweden is providing you with …
What will happen to the legal status of ‘sinking’ nations when their land is gone?
Small island nations such as Tuvalu, Kiribati, the Maldives and Marshall Islands are particularly vulnerable to climate change. This raises an unprecedented legal question: can these small island nations still be considered states if their land disappears? Rising seas, stronger storms, freshwater shortages and damaged infrastructure all threaten their ability to support life. Some islands …
Opinion: Let’s be honest – both Sweden and Germany need the immigrants
OPINION. Population growth due to immigration is often portrayed as a problem rather than a success. This is deeply problematic, not least because Sweden – like Germany – depends on immigration to meet its growing labour market needs, writes Mark Furness and Jana Kuhnt from the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS). The opinions expressed in the article are those …
How cheap Chinese imports displaced Togo’s ‘Nana-Benz‘ traders
The manufacturing of African print textiles has shifted to China in the 21st century. The rise of “made in China” has undermined the African women traders who have long shaped the retail and distribution of this cloth, writes Fidele B. Ebia from Duke University and Rory Horner from University of Manchester. For many decades Vlisco, …
No, extreme poverty has not plunged since the 1980s
Data from the World Bank suggests that extreme poverty has declined dramatically over the past four decades, from 47% of the world’s population in 1981 to around 10% today. But this is probably not true, writes scholars from three European universities. The World Bank suggests that extreme poverty has declined dramatically over the past four …
How the global health system can build back better after US aid cuts
To build a new global health compact for Africa the system much change from combating individual diseases to ensuring that all people have the opportunity for health and well-being throughout their lives, writes Jonathan E. Cohen from University of Southern California. Steep cuts in US government funding have thrown much of the field of global …
Development Sweden #71. Here is how corruption in Ukraine can be reduced
Parul Sharma from the Swedish Anti-Corruption Institute (IMM) gives her advice to Ukraine as on how to combat corruption. Also in this issue, despite criticism the royal foundation Global Child Forum will continue working with Boston Consulting Group. Development Sweden is providing you with exclusive insight about everything that happens in Swedish aid politics. Development Sweden is …
