UTBLICK A MAGAZINE ABOUT FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES

ELECTIONS AND DEMOCRACY IN A CHANGING WORLD

Cover photo: flickr.com ISSUE 2 2018 NO. EDITORS' LETTER CONTENTS

This year we are facing an enormous amount of elections. One of the most important aspects of World’s 2018 elections guide What happened to democracy in Cambodia? a democracy is elections, free and fair elections is what gives voice to our societies. Earlier this year we Ariada Carrascosa Moa Persson have seen Putin’s reelection in Russia, and also Hungary and Poland’s move towards nationalistic politics 4 18 and anti-european governments. Since previously we have already witnessed the low voting participation in France’s elections, Germany’s struggle with building a government, the victory of Trump in the US. But Back to the ballots Mexico’s presidential elections not to forget some positive trends in democracy as the surprisingly peaceful resignation of Zimbabwe's TeHillas Maloney Gloria Trujillo long ruling leader Mugabe, that now will lead up to a parliamentary election later this year. As well as the 7 20 formation of new political parties, like the Demokraterna in Gothenburg, who is claiming to be neither left or right and the left wing Podemos in Spain, just to mention a few. So we thought it would be the right time to explore the concept of elections and a myriad of issues entailed to it, especially with the upcom- Democracy in the modern age of technology There is now a window of opportunity in Zimbabwe ing Swedish election that will be held in September. Parwa Sadik Josefin Stenmark representing Feministiska juriststudenter vid 22 We wanted to look at elections in a wider spectrum and from different countries and cultures. So in this Handelshögskolan number of Utblick we hope you will learn about some of the elections which are taking place this year and 9 some trends we are witnessing in the world right now. Such as the worrying lack of participation of the young generation in elections or the disconnect between society and politicians. This has brought to life Human rights The 15-M movement, alternatives like e-democracy initiatives such as DigidemLab. - something the EU really cares about Digidem Lab and the future of democracy Adis Hasic Frida Åberg This is not to undermine national election issues, such as the coming mexican election, which is believed 24 11 to shake the country’s policies. As well as the need to critically review parliamentary and presidency laws that might be discriminatory, such as the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Or democratic retreats, like in Cambodia. The Swedish election Saturday Night Live’s Political Influence -through the lens of european elections Emma Smedberg So, in this issue we have compiled these and many more articles and topics that we hope you will enjoy. Gustav Nyqvis 14 26 We wish you a pleasant and critical reading,

Ink on finger The road to 2019 European elections Shakira Mills Mikael Lassa Moa Persson and Ariadna Carrascosa 16 28 [email protected], [email protected] 4 development, and trade, security energy. Andres Manuel economic of aredefinition mean probably will as History” Mexican in election biggest “the faces country The MEXICO Uribe. Álvaro President of former backing likely the with aright-wing from coalition emerge will acandidate —and leftist) (Bogotá, Petro Gustavo and centre-left) (Medellín, Fajardo — Sergio polls in uring fig are experience mayoral city Two big with candidates for office. FARC running the also from Timochenko reputation). good a has which party, ruling current Vargas (from the Germán COLOMBIA vote. to process) the (that distrust people the of convincing challenge the faces that Falcón, Henri is opposition Main again. run will Maduro VENEZUELA 1989). (1954- dictatorship Stroessner’s of Alfredo a supporter was which party Colorado, Partido wing right of the power in acontinuation means which by little, elections the won Benítez Abdo abstentionism, more with election the After PARAGUAY revolutionary.historical not by a held is position the that time first the It is Canel. Díaz- Miguel was election presidential of the winner The CUBA marriage. of same-sex legalising over the pecially es rateand murder the of rise the deficit, national the on focused was debate singer. music The Christian and nalist jour TV preacher, one-time evangelical an (conservative), Alvarado over won Fabricio (centre-left) Alvarado Carlos COSTA RICA AMERICA - April 19 19 -April - July 1 -July - May 27 -May 27 - 22 April April - 22 -May 20 - February 4, April 1 (second round) 1(second April 4, - February ELECTIONS GUIDE ELECTIONS WORLD’S 2018 Ariadna - - - Carrascosa mentalist Marina Silva. Marina mentalist environ and Bolsonaro Jair politician wing right are names hot other The run. to of if allowed now, win as would ently previous president Lula (from but the same appar party), of imprisonment Rouseff, later of Dilma Impeachment BRAZIL polls. opinion the by president become to likely most the is populist, and wing left as described AMLO, often (a.k.a) Obrador Lopez - October 7 -October - - Viktor Orbán from the right wing coalition, won the elec- the won coalition, wing right the from Orbán Viktor HUNGARY not have would won). though (al charge criminal atrumped-up to due running from prohibited Navalny Alexei was opponent and won Putin RUSSIA ernment. agov make up to of acoalition need in is that Parliament fragmented avery vote. was However, out wide turn the nation the to arena regional the from it made party Lega wing Right democracy. direct and ofvocate e-democracy an ad and environmentalist populist, anti-establishment, as qualified been has Grillo, Beppe by comedian founded party, single largest the was Movement Star Five The ITALY EUROPE Finland, Taiwan and Bhutan. Cyprus, Montenegro, Ireland, Luxembourg, Greenland, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Estonia, Latvia, Slovenia, Republic, Czech Salvador, El : (yellow) elections *Other - March 4 - March - March 18. 18. -March - April 8 - April - - - - place stands centre-left Pakistan Peoples Party. Peoples Pakistan centre-left stands place third In Khan. Imran captain cricket national by former Tehreek-e-Insaf founded Party, Pakistan bylowed centre fol polls, the in ahead is League Muslim Pakistan party conservative centre-right ruling current that show Polls PAKISTAN tence. sen prison a five-year serving currently Ibrahim Anwar minister prime deputy former opponent, main plus tion, opposi of the fragmentation opposition, against used be can that act” news a“fake map, electoral of the redrawing of a approval recent the are reasons of the Some scandal. corruption multi-billion dollar despite coalition, ruling Nasional Barisan his and Razak Najib Minister of Prime er pow in continuation the is outcome probable most The MALAYSIA office. the hold to woman first Army. the is She of Nepalese chief in commander and of Nepal President current and second the and itician, pol acommunist is who Bhandari, Won by Devi Bidhya NEPAL ASIA a govern. to form difficult make more would it therefore, and implemented, be cannot results the that fear the to due legislation electoral in a change US have for call the EU and Croat. one and Bosniak one Serb, one of 3members, consists presidency The set. was system unique avery (1992-1995) war Bosnian the After HERZEGOVINA AND BOSNIA issues. pressing most of the one being is Immigration has. Parliament Swedish the barrier percentage four get to over the able not being for seats their lose might Parliament the in parties seven of the Three Democrats. Swedish wing right the with dispute in also Moderates, liberal-conservative by the followed closely Democrats, Social centre-left by the victory atight show polls Opinion SWEDEN message. immigration anti an on focused Minister. Campaign Prime as term third his be will This majority. a wide with tions - March 13 -March - September 9 -May 9 - July 15 15 - July - October 7 - October - - - - -

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- - Illustration: Saana Kujala-John Saana Illustration: aligned withthe G20 countries. though Even events such asthese seem tobe out youngof hands,who putwe into power can reflect to we want be how representedbe in spheres that do the make important decisions regarding these issues. According to UNESCO, the youth literacy rate the at global level was 91% in 2013, compared toan adult theliteracy 85%. Brookings of rate However, Institution present that in terms education, of developing countries are 100 years behind developed countries. add in To sult to injury, Conteh and Ohemeng suggest that policy and decision making in developing countries is externally driven. Despite these facts proving that the youth the of firstworld are the most educated, empowered awareand group within our societies, they are still leaving some of the most important representative political decisions up olderto a smaller, majority through lack conventional of political action. in the hearts youth of everywhere. Unfortunately, most of world the throughout balanced not are these happenings wars, Hunger, emigration view. and famine exactlyare not - - TeHilla Maloney TeHilla BACKTO THEBALLOTS in America and two-thirds of Swiss youth have decided decided have youth Swiss of two-thirds and America in political Whilst 2014-2015. between polls the forgo to opinion an with anybody and psychologists scientists, millennials phenomenon, western this about speculate political of lack the that convinced stationary, remain protest. of form viable a is participation this ‘method’However, is failing us. all of alienates It our demands and the takes power away that our many of an cestorsfought togive us. have Politicians, our of lack aware participation, of use our social platforms to sensationalise their campaigns, but do expect not much more out our of disenchanted the forces age globalization of strata. Today, and technology are heightening awareness and increasing connectivity between people and cultures everywhere. The ability to witness natural disasters, acts civil terror, of conflicts and wars realin time has evoked global sympathy After numerous recent elections within our cen our within elections recent numerous After tury, the cry goes up that the youth are not voting. Less four-fifths than Britain, more in millennials of half than ------December 23 - July - April 5 - (July-Aug?) - March 26-28 - TBA - April to November litical division and conflict.It is being debated whether to hold elections before or after agreeing on a new and permanent constitution.would It be thefirst constitution since 1969. Boubacar Keita, who is seeking re-election. Opposition is Kalifaby Sanogo, which used to be part parlia Keita’s of mentary group but unexpectedly started a separate pres idential campaign. SOUTH SUDAN Currently elections in civil war, are proving to be difficult happen. to ZIMBABWE Just deposed dictator Mugabe but elected Emmerson a partyMnangagwa from Zanu in November PF, 2017, complicit with Mugabe. CONGO OF REPUBLIC DEMOCRATIC Dictator Joseph Kabila has outstayed his term limit for The a year now. over election, originally scheduled for late delayed. repeatedly has been 2016, LYBIA Presidential elections scheduled. are yet not There is po EGYPT After facing six tumultuous years that include the over throw Mubarak, of and that a coup the d’état first elected president, Morsi had to face after Both 2 years in power. themof are jailed. Autocrat Abdel Fattah took el-Sisi the reignsand has stifled protests and banned the Muslim Brotherhood since then. He has been elected to continue in the position. CAMEROON Senatorial elections in which the ruling party acquired 90% theof seats. Presidential elections later this year date tba. Current president Paul Biya is expected to seek to contin ue in power after 30 years in charge. Secessionists have taken arms to fightfor independence. MALI Former Prime Minister Abdoulaye Idrissa Maiga resigned in December 2017 and it was succeeded Ibrahim by - - - - March 7-31 - October 20 - July 29 - postponed until february 2019 - September - - May young soldier and part the of coup 1992 of that installed a military junta. the He got power in 1996 but stepped aside rule. civilian a let to SIERRA LEONE Julius Maada Bio has won the elections. He is a former AFRICA the maximum two of terms. President has Yemeen removed his all rivals of con by victing them on questionable charges. He is expected to change the law in order to be able to stay in office past anese living abroad. But there is general scepticism. general is there But abroad. living anese MALDIVES Lebanese are voting in the in ParliamentaryLebanese voting are elections after years.9 delayof Unexpected high participationfrom leb but has been postponed until February 2019. LEBANON between.The latest military coup took place in 2014. The next election was supposed to be held in November 2018, THAILAND The military has ruled for most the of period since 1947, with democratically a few elected government periods in 2019. tions, but unsure there if would be an agreement and how it could be. There been have deadly suicide bombings in voters registrationcenters. Presidential elections duein AFGHANISTAN Parliamentary elections after three a delay of years. Afghan government and close the to negotia Talibans party was dissolved the by Supreme Court in 2017. 2013 for a further five-year term, in the of face mass demonstrationsand opposition allegations fraudof inthe July elections. The country's opposition only significant but only democratic elections since 1993 . The CPP and HunSen reappointed got parliament by in September CAMBODIA Parliament election.Hun Sen from theleading party CPP, Cambodia Peoples Party had thehave power since 1985

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- - Photo: Flickr.com Photo: about these new technological advances, to to advances, technological these new about -casewhich has pushed the boundaries what of Analytica left legislators and courts law actively of asking themselves what do to which the answer - so far - has apparently been ‘nothing’. The entire world watched as Congress US interviewed the top officialof theFacebook conglomerate and, quite frank failed to grasply, the very fundamentals the of technolo gy hand. at A terrified billionaireat thesat disposalof this highly regarded institution for 10 hours in total and made it out the of fire with nothing andmore than ‘yes, ma’am’s sir’s‘no, and the occasional ‘I’ll back get to you on that’s. This development should beleaving us terrified, more so than form fraud voter any of The or ‘cheating’. existence of private entities meant to identify voters and through sway malicious use data of is already a disaster; but that have we to develop formyet tools any of begin to even reacting to such an attack is a bigger problem. we have considered have we a ‘functioning’ democracy for so long. Whatdeem I note in this of is scenario,how ithas however, - Parwa Sadik Cambridge DEMOCRACY representing Feministiska juriststudenter vid Handelshögskolan vid juriststudenter Feministiska representing Although this latent realization A critical think piece regarding the evolution of technology of the evolution regarding thinkA critical piece and our formal institutions’ functional failures in a contemporary setting. contemporary a in failures functional institutions’ formal our and IN THE MODERN AGE OF TECHNOLOG AGE IN THE MODERN tofeel in knowledge taken have we to be true for longa things of understanding our that realization the and time, ‘complete’. really never are can be humbling and a little painful, I believe it often aids as a catalyst for change in areas left have we alone for too long.Such is the case, in how recent events wouldI say, fundamental challenging our are understanding modern of technology and its effects on our democracy, among other things. The truth is that our world has already begun transitioning from one epoch to another; the leading causethis of met Information development. technological being amorphosis has never flowed this freely before as it does now on the and while Web, its that have may benefits, it has also had consequences just now beginning to dawn for the common man.allude I here to the highly controversial There’s a particular form of panic that comes comes that panic of particular form a There’s suppose I shaken. are beliefs long-held when people over it has something to do with the sense security of tend we

- Photo: nymag.com Photo: who are duly affected due to their periphery positions in order. the world Soon, worldwide, millennials will up make the largest vot ingbloc in various elections. This will matter not you if out,don’t get up, get and vote. To me, the voters withinTo G20 countries untapped have supplementary The the voters of power. developed world often just not for themselves, vote but for our countries by 2.5by million people The between only things 2016-2017. keeping us afloat many of are the socialmany provisions being madeavailable our to us by governments. With the WTOencroachment and other the of Bretton IMF, Woods institutions threatening these to many remove of systems in our developing countries, aren’t why the educated and empowered zealous to keep these systems Why, in place? with the pervasion global aren’t of the sympathy, western youth theirof aware potency within national and interna tional politics? poor (majority coming from our has regions) increased ------and international politics? " their potency within national national within potency their aren’t the western youth aware of of aware youth western the aren’t "Why, with the pervasion of global sympathy, sympathy, global of pervasion "Why, the with educated public majority. Our poverty ispover not now, ty10 yearsago. As reported the by WorldBank, theglobal rule. Our voting systems in Caribbean countries such as Jamaica and and Tobago, thoseTrinidad from the African continent are laced with boldfaced corruption and an un veloping country perspective, the word' democracy' of ten comes bagged with its Aristotelian definition'mob'of I am originally from the twin island Republic Trinidad of but I studyand Tobago, in Jamaica. Writing from the de ucational lives. ucational change through the civil duty voting. of is It vital that we ensure that our issues are perceived as relevant to those ed and economic social, our of course the determine who dia spokespeople, but with even the use our of new rep ertoires contention, of it is still important for us to affect Insta-stories. Discrimination, the economy, gun violence violence gun the economy, Discrimination, Insta-stories. and the environment are topics hot being discussed our at me social are We roundtable. the not tables, but round Our all-inclusive democratic system has expanded yet not its inclusivity to our facebook posts, twitter mentions and

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- - - - - Photo: wikimediacommons.org Photo: up the two-party system that had dominated Spanish pol itics for years. One part this of political renewal has been exploring participatory budgeting through online tools. On a free software website, citizens can propose and decide how to spend part the of city’s budget. When proposals are found to be viable and reach enough votes, they must be clear enforced (a difference to citizen-proposals in Sweden where politicians the have always final decision). As the 15-M movement critiqued politics represent not of ing the people, taking the democratic process online was a giving of way citizens direct influence on decision-making. Neither direct democracy or participatory budgets are where trend global a part of rather but phenomenons, new newtechnical solutions tothe participatory issues rep of resentative democracy are coming forth the all over world. Spain is one example, Iceland, Brazil and France are other countries experimenting with participatory budgets and had ended.This led to the formation the of left-wing, an ti-austerity party Podemos. The party was formed with theaim toapply what theycalled grassroot democracy, which in their view stood in contrast to whatSpanish pol itics had been in the like preceding years. They described themselves as a party political of renewal. Podemos was later elected in the Madrid city municipality thus breaking ------Frida Åberg Frida DIGIDEM LAB We are not goods are not We in ” defined what became ” and” “ THE 15-M MOVEMENT, THE 15-M MOVEMENT, AND THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACYAND THE FUTURE They represent don’t us crepancy between the people who govern and the people people the and govern who people the between crepancy who are governed has, in many countries, led to a political participatory democracy. for call a and dissatisfaction democratic in elected governments when so more Even citizen opposition, political restricting up end elections speech. of freedom and participation 2011,In May one weekbefore local elections, demonstra tions against political corruption, welfare cuts, unemploy ment and democratic deficit, gathered tensof thousands peopleof on the Puerta del Sol square in Madrid. Slogans suchas “ bankers and politicians of hands the the15-M movement.The 15-Mmovement used innovative online strategies and social media to gather and organize people, which enabled people the at Puerta del Sol square to continue the discussion when even the actual protests In a representative democracy the elected poli elected the democracy representative a In mem same, the All people. the represent should ticians bers political of parties do not tend to represent the actual population in terms age, gender, of heritage etc. would democracy representative veritable a Imagining discrimi and dynamics power without society a require nation, which is not true for the world The dis today. of - - and will we be left without protection in spaces have we no idea how cooperation to navigate. If from these social media platforms is out the of equation, as it evidently is, then this must quickly rapidly to changing world we adapt andfind appropriate measuresrespond. to Only then can beginwe to reinstate the integrity the of democratic voter, and only then can push we our society forward. I suppose the most frustrating question one hasto ask the if oneselfactions is why, undertaken in the online do main would be not tolerated legal) even (or in the offline domain,still we have done nothing? Theanswer must be to come yet that to have grasps we with the fact that social mediais reflectiona of our society that simplyworks on a different plane than the used one The to. we’re that event couldsimple spread hashtags online and have #MeToo like such a large political impact on global society is proof of that. Logically then, it must fall to us to find someform of standard and stability the in online domain. Otherwise, our authorities will remain sitting on their hands knowingnot how begin to even solving the task hand, at areno longer needed to provide foruma discussion of or set the framework for ‘civilized Where discourse’. shut have we out individuals and ideologies deemed have we dangerous enoughtotaboo in our traditional spaces, others now have created their own. In such a domain as exists there now, is no such thing as a true argumentative exchange; anyone that has argued ever with an ‘online troll’ could tell you as such. One the of reasons put we why weight in political de bates is to see which candidate the can fact-check other range a across knowledgeable more themselves prove and issues.of What face we now is an oddity in that become we exposed to countless exchanges in a short period time of without the assurity things of bring in their proper context. Whatfail we to realize is that our long-held establishments ------. just the Internet

to such an attack is a bigger problem. " problem. a bigger is attack an such to " The existence of private entities meant meant entities private of existence " The

develop any form of tools to even begin reacting reacting begin even to tools of form any develop to identify and sway voters through malicious use use malicious through voters sway and identify to of data is already a disaster; but that we have yet to to yet have we that but a disaster; already is data of because after all, it is sponded decide with We ‘nothing’. to dismiss these inter actions, denoting the activity as recreational or humorous; number like-minded of digital users. These social network ing hubs often denigrate to public forums usedto insult and smear political dissenters, and again re yet have we poses. recognize We this form discourseof in, for exam ple,Facebook groups that serve as launchpads for largera Hinging heavily on online hubs such as Reddit, Twitter, and Facebook, this new breed serves to provide alternate flowsof information created and spreadfor political pur political operation. operation. political while the conventional electoralwhile the conventional campaign typically is car ried live-broadcasted of out way by debates and inter views, are now we witnessing the dawn a new of form of them as being free and direct, must we ask ourselves in what capacity our institutions acted have to protect these rules in a modern setting. This because note that it is of To use a focused example,To state we if that the constitu tional framework parliamentary Swedish for elections sets such an attack is a bigger problem. malicious use data of is already a disaster; but that have we to develop formyet tools any of begin to even reacting to This development should be leaving us terrified, more so than form fraud voter any of The or ‘cheating’. existence of private entities meant to identify voters and through sway it out the of fire with nothing andmore than ‘yes, ma’am’s sir’s‘no, and the occasional ‘I’ll back get to you on that’s. ly, failed to grasply, the very fundamentals the of technolo gy hand. at A terrified billionaireat thesat disposalof this highly regarded institution for 10 hours in total and made The entire world watched asCongress US interviewed the top officialof theFacebook conglomerate and, quite frank

10 13 ------many countries, evidenced by protests and social move social and protests by evidenced countries, many ments such as the 15-M movement, is a fact. When citi zens get to submit and for vote their own proposals, get under deeper a budget, a in prioritize and distribute to standing how of a society is governed can be achieved. a be also can participation increasing for tools Online in processes decision-making in citizens involving of way regarding remain questions However, elections. between enabling by society in groups all reach really you whether on discussion political the moving and voting electronic and remain groups between injustices Structural line. thougheven digital tools taken have the discussion of for processes democratic in people more involve to how ward, still we a long so, is have Even to go. it not way an by represented being not imagine to thought interesting directly? ourselves representing but politicians, What do you think democracy will be like in the future? the in like be will democracy think you do What Anna Sanne: Futuristic democracy... it can Well either go right?way can It be word a fake to legitimize wars and sys tems little thathave or nothing to do with democracy or, as already we see happening, it can be taken seriously. I’d to thinklike that will we take advantage all the of possibil ities in this have and we day age and really do better. We need the collective intelligence and experience the of ma jority to come through with great solutions. I would like Sweden and to be Spain inspired and Taiwan start by using both online and face to face tools for direct democracy, creating participatory budgets, places where you can sub mit proposals, where you can give opinions on legislation, where you can clear get information about what is hap peningin your community and who to turnto when you answers. want in institutions democratic with dissatisfaction public The ------and reach all groups in society. " society. in groups all reach and methods in order to be where the people are are people the be where to order in methods we need to use both digital and face-to-face face-to-face and digital both use to need we " What these movements have taught us is that us that is taught have movements these " What How does direct democracy through internet-based internet-based through democracy direct does How work? solutions, Anna Sanne: look we if Well, different at movements in ternationally can we see how successful the use digital of tools and platforms been have for the future democ of For example,racy. in cities such as Madrid, Paris, and Reykjavik they created participatory budgets with the help onlineof platforms where citizens could submit propos and Brazil,als. In Taiwan digital tools helped have grass movementsroot to organise and engage citizens.tool A cannever replace active work from the organisers toen gage citizens and ensure a good representation the of population. these platforms However, can help with a lot logistics and information. They also give precious insights in the demographics the of processes,allowing organisers to detect unequal distribution the of money and correct it. They took to the streets and then later the local gov ernments, where they started the to move power to the people. These movements actually change the system in practice, change that inspires me shows and which really is possible. What these movements taught have us is that needwe to use both digital and methods face-to-face in order to be where the people are and reach all groups in society. Anna Sanne: to create want a civic We tech community inSweden because think we that it is missing. want We a place where people from the programming or hacker communi organisational or thecommunity activist meet everyone essentially and researchers and ty designers and who wants to be in this process upgrading of democracy. In the future all want citieswe to be democratic cities. As an everyday person in these cities you can cognitive make contributions to the decisions that affect you, public ser vices are delivered dynamically, and collective intelligence with your fellow-citizens fits in theyour of palm hand.

------Photo: digidemlab.org Photo: ployment, water and electricity being privatised and the school and health care system being eroded. and grew tiredhow hierarchal of the system is and how little the citizens are in involved politicaldecisions. Petter develop product and coordinator Project Joelson, (Petter author’s remark)er, ran a webcoop with NGO clients but all they ordered was ordinary homepages while he knew there were many organisational tools and platforms that could change the whole process a campaign of or an or ganisation. I had worked for a long time with youth democ racyprojects in poorand stigmatizedareas Gothenburg. of Butit pretend felt like democracy, as really not if meant to be applied to real issues or actually give means to affect change in society. So basically all we saw these other ways aboutto go democracy. Sanna: are very We inspired what has by happened in other countries. The last years a global movement for democra cy has been growing. can see We it all the from Europe way with the Spanish municipalist movement to the Middle East with the autonomous region Rojava. The economic crisis that hit several European countries, created a crit icalmass peopleof whowere tired evictions,of unem ------ing. Sanna has been a city council member in Gothenburg What is Digidem Lab and how did it all start? Anna Sanne: looked We around and saw something miss time to answer questions a few regarding digital tools for democracy: of future the and participation tive intelligence and participation. Anna Sanne Göransson, Sanne Anna participation. and intelligence tive and Sannacommunity manager coordinator, and project Ghotbi, project coordinator took and manager, event the wanting to gather and support people who are interest ed in exploring new digital tools and methods for collec The Gothenburg-based non-profit organisation Digidem Digidem organisation non-profit Gothenburg-based The Lab is a resource center for civil society organisations, cesses been have carried out in two districtadministra tions in Gothenburg, and another one is active right now. shouldbe spent. Oftenthe proposalsregard the design parks, of where tobuild newa school or the organizing of cultural events. As today two of participatory budget pro ingwith participatory budgets has been to let people prioritize howcertain a amount municipality a of budget digital tools to increase citizens' influence in decision-mak ing processes. In Sweden the most common workof way

12 15 - - - - - We shouldWe not, especially underestimate now, not the po litical power the show has. Further readings: See the study Features “From Funny to Entertaining Effects: on Research Communication to Approaches Connecting Political Comedy” Becker by & Waisanen (2013). one watch the of sketches the of To debates, search “Donald vs. Hillary Trump Clinton Debate Cold Open - SNL” Youtube. on more you want If information about this subject, read during Live Night Saturday on Impersonations ”Political the2016 U.S. Presidential Election” Outi by J. Hakola (2017) As more and more people are watching the show’s sketch es and parodies online on social media, the “Saturday Night Live effect” will most likely increase. For example, during the 2016 presidential campaign, several the of show’s reenactments the of debates between 20 million over got views Clinton on and Trump channel. Where mainstreamthe media show’s YouTube such as News, Fox CNN and Washington Post actively com mented and analyzed the show weekly during the election, it sparked the national debate further. even speaks It high volumes tweeted that Trump even negatively about one of the parodies him, of and it demonstratesfurther even that important is it the in political candidacy which direction Saturday Night Live is taking every week. I don’t believe that the show will alone the have power to determine who wins or loses an election. there is However, no doubt that the show has shaped the national debate in politics across the country throughout its nearly for ty-three year old run.As thanks to its large following, the show stake is at when it comes to its relevance as a politi cal satire during the upcoming 2020 presidential election. ------is taking every week. " week. every taking is which direction Saturday Night Live Live Night Saturday direction which " It is important in the political candidacy candidacy political the in important is " It that you rescind the SNL invitation”. Some cast members, such Killam, as explained Taran have how they had a difficult time with being a partof the en dorsement hosting. Trump of Killam revealed in an inter view with Conan O’Brien: . . it's really played hard to have ”. a part in … offering promoting a platform for some for, one who I find constantlyI'm However, disappointed in”. I believe that the political message has been pretty clear afterwards with the writer’s perception and his Trump of administration, the if even show’s creator Lorne Michaels dismisses the assumption that the show chooses politi cal sides. The show has continued to mock the President since he was elected, and I believe that the show is defi nitely its of aware ability to hide their political messages “behind the comedy”. veil of That decided explains Trump why to host one episode of the 2015 season. By using entertainment media, presiden tial candidates also take the opportunity to showother sides themselves of and to reach a different, mostly young was group voters. the of Trump firster, political candidate who hosted an episode in the show’s history; there had only been cameo roles or brief appearances in sketches before. His episode, where he only had twelve minutes of screentime was seen many as by a double standard from the writers part. Theshow is knownfor leaning towards the liberal agenda, which is one the of reasons the why book was a surpriseing Trump of to many people. NBC, the net work who broadcast the had just show, recently cut ties afterwith Trump his comments on the Latino community where he had said that Mexico was sending criminals to the U.S., and that he was planning on building a wall across Leadership Hispanic National The southernthe border. Agenda sent a letter to NBC when it was announced that would be hostingTrump one the of episodes. Parts it of are appalled . . We thatsaid: you would ”. enable Trump’s hateful speech for nothing less than a ratings ploy and ask

- - - - Photo: vulture.com Photo: ’S and comedy can fill gap”. that to their prove voters that they’re inTo on the joke, and to show that they can laugh themselves at too, politicians usedhave Saturday Night Live since its very start as a way to work around traditional media. the viewer’s political opinions in the country. Chevy From Chase’s impersonation President of Gerald Ford in 1975 to Kate McKinnon as candidate Hillary Clinton during the last election, there is no doubt that the show has been least at a source influence of formingby the public’s perception with satire People and humour. who do actively not follow the news or understand the U.S. political system ad have mitted that their knowledge and understanding politics of has increased thanks to late-night television shows such as Saturday Night Live. By watching political comedy shows, earlier studies that proven it can have also encourage peo ple to form their own political opinions rather thanjust fol lowing the traditional news sources. As Dean Obeidallah, a ”Eighty said Politico: to political million peo commentator, ple watched the debate, 130 million people 50 will vote, million others are still looking for places their to get news, - - Emma Smedberg Emma and change the voters’ preferences? the voters’ and change POLITICAL INFLUENCE: SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE SATURDAY Can a comedy show influence the presidential elections influence the presidential Canshow a comedy The show was given the term “The Saturday Night Live Effect” after the influence the show has been having on behindSaturday NightLive and thepublic became quite during of aware the 2016 presidential election. important than has It another. become a voice in politics, and it has been tough to find a balance between politics and humour for the which show, I believe both the team is important in an election, the show utilizes humor to get viewers and the media to perceive a certain topic as more landscape. First and foremost, it is a comedy show; but many others,like I also think it just of as much as a social commentary on different political highlight issues. what To sion shows in the United States four for over decades, and for just as long, it has played a crucial part in the political doing since its very start in 1975. The show has been one the of leading late-night televi turning it into something that everyone, no matter what re and entertaining find can to, belong you class social latable is something that Saturday Night Live has been By taking the inner, complex world of politics and and politics of world complex inner, the taking By

14

17 Illustration: Saana Kujala-John Saana Illustration: - -Bob Marley -Bob Get up, stand up! up! stand up, Get "Get up, stand up! up! stand up, "Get Don't give up the fight!" the up give Don't Stand up for your rights! rights! your for up Stand This notion that "better is truly mustcome", one that are hopingwe on.A plea for all politicians,just not the Jamaican ones, to come terms into wanting more than just that to say theywon. have But to all defeat the odds that keep them from drastically improving their country's well being. An urgent request to see pass the norms of politics and stand firm in the creation of difference that will be hard, that several will that involve will 'fights', allow you to lose allies, but that will turn the table for your coun try and in return, turn thetable for a better world. A world where people will stop voting just because they thehave right to. And because vote they see leaders worth voting for. So Mister Big Man, Mister So What for I voting again? or Progression, Corruption end. the at I'mCause confused really No seriously! Tie, and Suit Mister why? me tell Just wrong, get Because don't Jamaica. my I love looking you how with bother I just can't a favor. me doing you like me, My cry is not he, for But linage, blood his through see can't Who green.Bleeding team. his Orange nothing. for votes he So something. for vote to I want But please. once finger ink my me let Just - - - - - Or a long better, even talk with the Queen laying out the specificationsreparations. for For that could be the only in which way our could votes be considered. Why shouldWhy when vote, we are given not we plausible any reason There is to? no difference between the two prom inent parties. They do the same things. Carry out a pro jectyears for five then it hangingleave when someone else takes the over threshold. Andthat's really a positive outlook, when compared tocer tain politicians who plant their behind on reclining chairs in officesforfour and years.half Then begin actto all frantic within six months to fixroads and stop the leaking coming from the school that roof serves a small district. to mention,Not dipping finger my in ink that stainsfor a couple days, just of to hear racked that up you a have phone bill millions over dollars. of While there are children that cannot be educated in a tertiary institution because they thousands don't have dollars. of can onlyWe hope that the these 'important' conversations were held with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), standingup as nationalista and saying no, Sweet Jamaica cannot afford to be more in any debt. are done! We It has It been a topical conversation that the edu cated younger generation do partake not in the voting process. One then wonders, could why this be. Is it be cause they see no reason to be torn in between a green (Jamaica Labour Party) and an orange (People's National Party)world? Or could it just be that these millennials are nice apparel,no longer blinded articulate by vocabulary, and bribery it could trinkets? be Moreover, the fact that thougheven change has been made from a Colony to the achievement Independence, of the leaders failed have to transformation. progressive create Shakira Mills A CommentaryA Politics. Jamaican on INK ON FINGER Please. Ink finger, on my Oh no, Lays their heads on cold concrete, cold on heads their Lays be. may meals tomorrow's what knowing Not While your constituency, And then go home to sleep, to home go then And Count Thread Thousand On Fifteen your Sheet. Cotton Egyptian Grin teeth, your noise, some Make A chair. A Parliament, House of in the sit To Because your partyBecause your is in lead, a chair. get must you And Why must I vote? must Why No! Really? No! Tie, and Suit Mister And you want to secure your seat. your secure to want you And Why you want me to vote? to me want you Why time, Because is election You Mister Big Man, Mister You

16 19

- - - Photo: thedailybeast.com Photo: Hun Sen Further readings? https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/14/opinion/cambodia- kem-sokha-hun-sen.html https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/02/world/asia/cambo dia-kem-sokha-arrest-hun-sen.html https://www.ui.se/landguiden/lander-och-omraden/asien/ kambodja/ regarding for example deforestation, government corrup tion and expropriation. Theresult the of upcoming election Whether is clear. or not the CPP will receive support any all from at the people, it will likely to step not want down from Hun the Sen power. has expressed that he wants to rule least at ten more years. Whether or that not will be the case no one can tell. But if there glimpse is any a democracy of recovery in Cambodia, it will likely take many years to restore from the political ac tions that were made during the last years.

- - - - Photo: wvnews.com Photo: from the power." it will not likely want to step down step to want likely not will it any support people, any the all from at " Whether or not the CPP will receive receive will CPP the not or " Whether Sam Rainsy Sam The same argument is used to sure make the only media houses up and running during the election will be CPP- have houses media independent of number A friendly. been shut down, such as the radio stations Radio AsiaFree Democracy of and Voice Phnom Penh but also Cambodia theDaily, biggest English newspaper. All them of known for fearingnot to criticize the government on sensitive issues But what is happening with the democracy in Cambodia in the aftermath the of recent political actions? Foreign aid donors are withdrawing their money from the country, be ing afraid to be symbolized with giving money to the regime anddonors who arestaying put inthe country arebeing crit icized for taking not enough actions to secure that the aid endwon’t up hands. in Hun Sen’s Meanwhile, there is a huge a with NGOs International society. the civil on crackdown democratic focus are getting kicked out the of country, get tinghigh taxing fees from the government and are being ac cused paying not enough of taxes to the Cambodian state.

- Photo: asiantimes.com Photo: ? helpfrom the U.S, something thatexperts said have to be anotherpolitical Hun by Sen move to remainin power and limit the threats from the opposition party. What has been said expertsby is that they were countingon HunSen to take political actions in order but to remain are in power, surprisedyet on the extent the of measures CPP has been taking lead that have to less democracy in the country. election compared to the one in 2013. The political actions and laws madefrom the parliamentthe recentyears have made it clear the direction Hun Sen wants is to the go not to increase way the democracy in the country. November the last Supremeyear, Court dissolvedthe biggest opposi tion party enforcing by a law approved the by CPP making it available to dissolve political parties whose leader has been arrested. The CNRP party and its leader Sokha Kem wereaccused aspiring of with coupa to make the d’état - - Moa Persson Moa CAMBODIA DEMOCRACY IN TO WHAT HAPPENEDWHAT things aren’t looking different any for the outcome this of everythinghe can in his power For the to remain in power. upcoming parliament election 29th July of this summer, The latest political actions had a big have impact on the democracy in Cambodia. All coming from the ruling par Cambodiaty Peoples CPP, Party and Hun Sen, doing opposition party had manipulated the result. the party manipulated had opposition Rescue Party, with its former frontman Sam Rainsy had gained more votes than the ruling party had expected. the that said and bear, not could Sen Hun that Something er since 1985 but in 2013 things could changed. have Cambodia National party biggest CNRP, opposition The The election in 2013 stirred up the politics in in politics the up stirred 2013 in election The People Cambodia’s party Cambodia. sitting CPP, The Party, withits front man Hun Sen had have the pow

18 21

------Photo: wikimediacommons.org wikimediacommons.org Photo: problems in Mexico, which has to do with poverty, human violence. rights and Some the of actual challenges in the country is the high violencelevel of against civil population policeman, by mil itary and the drug cartels: The lack focus of on the violation Humanof rights such as forced disappearance, femicides and the assassination several of journalist are the most ur problemsgent that needs to be taken consideration. into MexicoIf wants to maintain the status a young of democ racyit needs presidenta to have who takes these issues seriously with concrete vision and solutions . But the reali ty seems to be that some Mexican voters expect an unreal radical change with Obrador and some just want to choose a new option without concrete expectations. Others, influ enced the by polarization and tendentious media, expect to stop project Obrador´s transforming of Mexicoa into country. socialist radical new in 2000. was It the first time that the opposition,repre sented the by conservative party won a presidential PAN election. In 2012 the PRI took back the power with a big Enrique Peña candidate Nieto. his mediaticcampaign by In order to continue for this presidential in power, election the PRI has chosen a very low-profile candidate who is more known in the private In the sector. opinion some of political experts José Antonio Meade has the not pres encenor the skills ashis rivals. His discourseis focused on separating himself from the rest the of politicians and un businessmanwho common a of the impression giving derstands the country's challenges. But the reality is that he worked as a public servant too for the PRI and has very good contacts with the establishment. What are the Mexican people expecting with this election 1st? July in The candidate's discourses level is very poor and suffers from a lack credibility. of They are focusing not on the main

------with 26-28 percent with sup of 26-28 is for modernization and liberalization of Ricardo Anaya Ricardo " The candidate's discourses level is very poor very is level discourses candidate's " The credibility. of a lack from suffers and problems main the on focusing not are They poverty, with do to has which in Mexico, violence." and rights human Ricardo Anaya the Mexican During economy. his period as president of the national parliament, he supported many controversial reforms on national laws proposed former by president Felipe Calderón and implemented (PAN) the by current President Enrique Peña Nieto (PRI) in order to privatize na tional resources and education in the country. Meade, Antonio José is polls the in candidate third The the "official" Institutional from candidate Revolutionary (PRI). The official party has decreased in popularity and in supporters during the current president Enrique Peña period, a periodNieto´s characterised a high vi by level of corruption. and olence The PRI has been the political party that has ruled the po litical power in Mexico since 1929. But the PRI lost the pow erafter 73 yearsfor the first time a in presidential election of national of resourcesto combat the inequalities in the country seen as the biggest challenge. In the second place in opinions polls running the young estcontender porters. Ricardo Anayais considered a conservative, clever increased and has escalated who leader pragmatic and his power in politics very fast. He was a part Calderón’s of teambut when Anaya decided tobecome the presiden tial candidate from the PAN, differences with the Calderón family were clear and ended up with Margarita Zavala´s resignation from the party.He is considered a betray members.er some by PAN He has been enough skillful to convince the central-leftparty to an make alli (PRD) ance and be the face that of alliance. He represents a well accommodate upper class with good skills as a political politicalspeaker Most Anaya's and of negotiator. discourse towards the election is focused on criticising and answer ing Obrador’s solutionsand ideas, especially eco regarding challenges.nomic

- Photo: flickr.com Photo: Andrés Manuel López Obrador MORENA candidate has been compared with Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro. During the last months a part the of Mexicanmedia has suggested even connectiona between Obrador and the Russian government. political Obrador´s movement has created only not a big polarization in the country but also a social and political debate. Obrador´s central ideas are most grounded on redistribution of wealth the by centralization the of state, and nationalization Obrador is running now his third presidential election as a candidate but withnew a politicalparty MORENA. Andrés Manuel López Obrador resigned from PRD in 2012 and created MORENA in the Considered same year. for some asan anachronistic,populist and socialist theleader, presidential candidatefor PRD in 2006and 2012.In 2006 Obrador became a very big protagonist in Mexican polit ical context, after the controversial presidential election, in which he was considered as a virtual winner during the period.campaign´s Felipe Calderón won the election then in the last hours with a very little percent advantage of Obrador. Thisover caused a very big unconformity among people, specially supporters Obrador´s who allegedbig a manipulation the of results and an electoral fraud had taken place, followed big protests by in Mexico city during several months. Since then, Mexico's political atmosphere supporters Obrador´s between polarized very has been detractors. Obrador´s and ------Gloria Trujillo is run (AMLO) with (AMLO) Margarita Zavala ’S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS’S The biggest and most expensive elections in modern in history. elections expensive most and biggest The Andrés Manuel López Obrador Obrador López Manuel Andrés MEXICO National Electoral Institution (INE). Institution Electoral National expensiveas well with an investment 6.778 of million Mexican pesos (552,420 million EUR), according to The March 30th was the official to startday the pres coun the in biggest the Mexico, in campaigns idential most the And voters. million 89 history with modern try´s has the first position and is the contender to catch up Obradorto. has been Mexico city’s and mayor the former (MORENA) (MORENA) the support 43-48 of percent according to opinion polls cent of supporters. of cent Movement Regeneration National the for candidate The ning in the fourth place. She has the last position in the ranking presidential of candidates with around five per and run as an independent candidate. independent as run an and According to current opinion polls nal fight between andZavala the pragmaticyoung Ricardo Anaya, has lead Margarita Zavala to resign from her party country. This factor was one the of reasons to an make al liance with a left party, in order back to get the presidency. afterThis a big year, polarization and the of an inter PAN from the last presidential election in 2012 and after the catastro a were period Calderón´s Felipe president former phe and the party became the third political option the of Clinton and for many of PAN membersClinton and PAN for many of was a clear option to become the presidential candidate. results The PAN iticians resigned. The most notorious case was Margaritas former wife of president (PAN), Felipe Calderón.Zavala´s The former first lady was considered the Mexican Hillary Thiscoalition had been not wellaccepted for many mem bers both of parties and some the of most important pol party was elected (PAN) to be the presidential candidate for the alliance "For Mexico ". in Front made an alliance and are supporting the same presidential candidate. Ricardo Anaya representing the conservative becomethe Mexican head state, of and the first time that the centre-left Party the of Democratic Revolution (PRD) and the conservative party National ActionParty (PAN) Thistime are four maincandidates fighting othereach to

20 THERE IS NOW A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY IN ZIMBABWE

Josefin Stenmark

Political debate among youths on the topic of 'a Democratic Zimbabwe'

After 38 years under the governance of the for- percent of the 5,6 million citizens who are registered to " Now there is a window of opportunity

22 mer president Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe is now in a vote are youths. state where the population can sight at least two roads for a democratic shift in the history of Zimbabwe, 23 from their windows. One consists of the now ruling party What struck me the most during my one week visit in ZANU, and the second of the opposition MDC. There are Zimbabwe was the endurance of the young people, fight- where the youths are probably the most eager split opinions within the civil society whether the elec- ing for a reconstruction of a country they have never got tion which will be held this summer will be free and fair. the chance to see in bloom. People with a vision of a dem- to witness a change. " Many believe that ZANU will win even in a fair election, ocratic culture where there is real influence of the young by the support for the new president who overthrew Zimbabwean, of women and of people with disabilities. Mugabe with different forms of control. Others says that Groups that today are marginalized in the political system. the opposition MDC with their new leader Chamisa will win People who see corruption as the dangerous cancer in despite splits in the party and their subordinate role in the the state which must be cured. Who are willing to partici- state’s media. The big question is what is going to hap- pate and bring their force, creativity and energy to get the pen if the opposition grows strong enough to bring about country back on its feet. a second election round, which was the case in 2008. Then 200 people were killed in violent protests due to Mugabe’s 60 percent of the Zimbabwean population are youths. It refuse to admit an electoral loss. is no exaggeration to say that the future belongs to the young people. Now there is a window of opportunity for In April I got the chance to visit the organization Youth a democratic shift in the history of Zimbabwe, where the Empowerment and Transformation Trust (YETT). YETT youths are probably the most eager to witness a change. works for a just, inclusive and prosperous society where Even though the window is open, there are no guaran- young people fully participate and lead in sustainable de- tees against a quick closure or a backlash. Regardless the velopment. Through campaigns they have been part in the outcome in the election there is a new generation who shift of youth participation in registration for voting. In the deserves the world’s support in fostering a democratic last election in 2013, only 8 percent of the Zimbabwean culture, document human rights violations and raise the The head office of YETT Youths gathered for a community meeting youth (up to 35 years old) voted. This year, already 43 voices of the youths. 25 ------will eventually come, but only under one condition, and that’s that the keeps EU pushing Bosnia in the right direc tion. The voting laws is just one the of many human rights issues Bosnia is facing, and there is plenty to be done. conclude, view it’sTo that my development Bosnia’s in the human right field is closely dependent on its progress towards membership. EU With it comes democracy, rule andlaw of civil liberties everyone should the have privi Expansionlege to enjoy. the of union is something we should strive for in the European community, only not as it strengthens the diplomatic EUs and economic muscle, but also because such an expansion is an export freedom. of And in the now more Brexit, than light of ever, I believe ex pansion the of union is a must for its continued existence. Allowing for new countries to join, is a mutually beneficial must for all parties involved, which both the and EU the yet to be member states, simply can’t do without. Europe and accession to the European Union.This has al lowedfor the leaders the of to put EU forth certain de mandsin relation tothe accession process, and one of these demands are, thatBosnia if is to join the it must EU fulfill the its human rights criteria which translates an into implementation the Sejdic-Finci of ruling. theInitially, was EU very adamant in their demands. The Bosnian Stabilization and Association Agreement was blockedeven because failures of to comply with the ruling. Since the has EU 2014, taken however, a different approach to the problem and its goal has been to reachpre-ac a cessiondeal with Bosnia without it having to change its constitution.In return the Bosnian leaders had to write a written commitment to a package reforms, of including Sejdic-Finci compliance. Although the new standpoint EU’s allowed for the unfreez ing the of Stabilization and Association Agreement and subsequently progress Bosnia’s towards membership, EU this kind solutionof might seem contraproductive to some. Certainly, the condition Sejdic-Finci of compliance remains, but it has been sidelined. I am quite not sure how to feel about this. But in the long term, I think the leaders EU took a good decision regard ing this question.The number one priority in the Bosnian Stabilization and Association Process is for the country fulfill as accession many requirements in the shortest possible time. this If means a temporary sidelining the of Sejdic-Finci ruling, so be it. A change in the election system ------stand election to the the to election stand and the Presidency? " Presidency? the and parliamentary assembly parliamentary under the rule of law and and law of rule the under " How can a county operate operate a county can " How allows for three ethnicities to to ethnicities three for allows at the same time hold free and and free hold time same the at fair elections when the law only only law the when elections fair tem sanctions. of can It merely the award winning parties monetary compensation in the form damages. of real Any change in the legal system due ECtHR case law hinges on the judges and politicians each of signatory state or the in-build mechanism in the domestic legal system (such as the 19 the § of 2 chapter in the Swedish constitution). Regarding this ruling, very little has happened in the nine years since the court decided in the case, and it’s to be yet implemented in Bosnian law. The ruling sparked has, a debate in Bosnia. however, is It apparent that the electoral system is flawed, whileevery change to it threatens the very document that allows for thenationalist establishment changeA in tostay in power. one part the of constitution would open box a Pandora’s legalof reform and further weaken the political establish ment. Fortunately enough, there are political forces both inside and outside Bosnia of pushing the country towards the Bosnian constitution prohibited them from standing elections to the House Peoples of and the to the Presidency Bosniaof and Herzegovina dueto their respectiveethnic itiesand that they therefore been have prohibited from participating discriminatory a in public in life manner. Thus, the court were todecide, whether the provision in the Bosnian constitution regarding elections to the House Peoplesof and the Presidency are discriminatory accord ing to cited provisions andconsequently in violation the of ECHR. Unsurprisingly, the court ruled the Bosnian consti tution to be discriminatory in these areas and that the rel provisionsevant were in violation the of ECHR. Surprisingly, the court wasn’t unanimous in this decision,with Judge judgment. dissenting completely a delivering Bonello Inmany cases, successful litigants the of ECtHR achieve no material justice as the court lacks an effective sys ------

respective ethnicities. When the applications were sent to the court in 2006, Sejdic and Finci cited article the 14 of ECHR (non-discrimi in conjunctionnation) with Article Protocol 3 of No. 1 ECHR free of (right elections) as well as Article Protocol 1 of No 12. (generalECHR prohibition claiming discrimination) that of for three ethnicities to stand election to the parliamenta ry assembly and the Presidency? This can hardly be “free compering these provisions, simply By democratic”. and Bosnian looksit constitution like sanctions discrimination against who anyone isn’t a Bosniac, or Croat Serb. you If are e.g. Romani, of Jewish or Swedish descent, it seems like these laws would prohibit from becoming a delegate to the House Peoples of or one the of three presidents Bosnia of and Herzegovina. While status Bosnia’s as a signatory member to the European Convention Human of Rights further (ECHR) complicates thelegal understanding these of provisions, it also gives its citizens to more seek ways justice. When all ordinary legal remedies in the domestic order been have exhausted, a wronged citizen signatory any of state can appeal to the European Court Human of Rights (ECtHR). This is exactly what Dervo Sejdic, Roma of origin, and Jakob Finci, Jewish of origin, did after they unsuccessful chal lenged a decision from the Central Election Commission that prohibited them from standing elections due to their regarding the parliamentary assembly Bosnia of and Herzegovina (the House Peoples) of is further specified in article IV onthe same topic andstates thatthe assem bly should consist fifteen of delegates, five Bosniacs,five Croats and five Serbs. And withregards to the Bosnian Presidency,the same principle divisions of seems toap Whenply. comparing article and IV and I(2) its presidential counterparts, it’s apparent that the Bosnian constitu tionsthe is at very least dubious and conflicting. How can countya operate under the ruleandlaw the of at same time hold free and fair electionswhen the law only allows - - - - -

Adis HasicAdis Dayton Agreement HUMAN RIGHTS -SOMETHING THE EU REALLY CARES ABOUT REALLY The agreement did only not stop

After years of fighting, relentless war and and war relentless fighting, of years After

Dayton Accords. Photo: politike.cartacapital.com Photo: Dayton Agreement The Sejdic-Finci case and its role in the accession Bosnia of and Herzegovina the to European Union free and democratic elections. The electoral procedures procedures electoral The elections. democratic and free Article the of Bosnian I(2) constitution clearly states, that the country should operate under the rule law and of with ocratic state, the Bosnian one outlines the voting system theof land and forth lays civil liberties and rights guaran teed the by state to its citizens. tional community, but most importantly, the Constitution the Constitution importantly, most but community, tional Bosniaof and Herzegovina. As every constitution in a dem tal legal principles according to which itshould begov erned. This includes certain agreements regarding internal borders and the countries relationship with the interna the bloodshed in Bosnia, it also set the path for the young country’s future existence establishing by the fundamen near Dayton, Ohio in the United States and is therefore therefore is and States United the in Ohio Dayton, near most commonly referred to as the or the Franjo ended Tudjman what’s has been called Europe’s agreement peace II. The War World since tragedy worst was negotiated the at Wright-Patterson Air ForceBase finally came to an end in the autumnof 1995. With the stroke a pen, of Alija Izetbegovic, Slobodan Milosevic and Herzegovina and Bosnia in war the deaths of thousands

24 27 - - - - to the political palette.

Pink new parties from the story is the same same is the story the " To a varying degree, degree, a varying " To parties have lost their their lost have parties across the spectrum. " the across in most national elections around Europe. Mainstream Mainstream Europe. around comfortable front row seats to to seats row front comfortable So there might be 7, the Sothere current 8 or9 parties mighteven be7, inthe Riksdag many parties Too next some argued. year. have Depending on your preferences, the Swedish election this fall is going to tickle more than one bone. Closest to adding up to 50 percent might have now) of (as to entale a coalition the of Social Democrats and their main party conservative the the But Moderaterna. contester, two probably can donot without one moreparty, eitherthe Green Party, Center Party or Liberal Party. More than one party in Sweden is dangerously close to the minimum 4 percent mandate to the Riksdag and risk stand ing on the doorstep complicate this fall. things To further, a new party is making its forward, way Feminist Initiative (FI), polling around 2 percent, in their second attempt in sep Adding tember. to let each others legislation pass andparticularly to ap theprove proposed national budget. But the agreement decemberöverenskommelsen)(DÖ, diedonly one year in, theby hands the of Christian Democrats (KD). This time around, with a predicted bigger even mandate, the Sweden Democratsare in an bettereven position to cause the same predicament forwho “wins” ever theelec tion. There are a couple scenarios. of There might be more of the same block-politics left of and right, that has been the case in Sweden for more than 20 years. Or there could be a new coalition government, made parties up of meeting in the middle, i.e a coalition Social of Democrats, Green party, LiberalParty and Center Party. The trick (apart from getting along) is to account for more than 50 percent the of seats inthe Riksdag. But that will be difficult formation for any to add up.

- - - - - Photo: flickr.com Photo: Stefan Löfven There is also the looming question: Who ‘can’ govern? govern? ‘can’ Who question: looming the also is There Sweden, in the election four years ago,also represent the new normal for Europe. The are no real winners in the na tional elections. Last time around in Sweden, the electorate had split the into two blocks as left-right per usual. The left side had more than votes the right side. But, the outsiders, the Sweden Democrats, now had taken such a big chunk of the electorate that a coalition government on either side couldform not majoritya in the parliament and therefore could govern. not In order to deal with this new situation, there was an agreement between the two political blocks, were partnot theof Swedish nation.These statements, togetherwith their neo-nazi roots, countless racist blun ders and remarks from national and local party officials, accounts for theirextreme right position. Feeling the pressure from public outcry and bad media coverage, the party instituted in 2012 a “zero tolerance of racism” and began to exclude members. Despite countless controversies, the party doubled their mandate in the 2014 election to 12,9 the percent. party Today seems to be stabi lizing around 15 percent theof but vote, this is also too ear ly to predict, especially in the case Sweden of Democrats where opinion polling compared actual election to results underestimated. highly been have What the Sweden Democrats done, have is to change or tilt the political controlling debate to their and framing favour, There integration. and crime immigration, about debate the hasbeen longa present vacuum widening the space for na tional conservatism - the shortcomings integration, of low eringtaxes, the reconstitution the of Swedish welfare state under New Public Management and its commercialization theof welfare state, Folkhemmet - has the for paved way the Sweden Democrats to step in and fill the hole, blaming expensive. as too immigration - - -

The Sweden Democrats represents (SD), in Sweden ELECTION

treme right. In 2009, a year before entering parliament, their party lead er Jimmy Åkesson said, in an opinion piece in Aftonbladet major newspaper),(a that Islam was the biggest threat to Sweden since II. World War Björn party Söder, made chair, the distinction - as Deputy speaker the at Riksdag in 2014 - between Swedish, Sami and Jews, claiming Sami and Jews Brown: the entrance nationalism of as a “born again” political movement, making its european into way national elections in the 90s. Their politics are portrayed as nationalist con servative or extreme even right. The Sweden Democrats, as their many of counterparts around Europe, talk about mainly one thing - immigration - and that there too is way muchit. of The Sweden Democrats made its the into way Riksdag in 2010. Far later than their counterparts in other countries.European you onlyIf look their at official party programyou getmight the benign impression a national of conservative party on theright, hung up onnational identity, and that is how they would to be like perceived. But, looking their at neo-nazi rootsand what they in printedsay press, on social media and among themselves, you might very well call them ex from their political program. is It better to govern than not to govern, has been the argument the at the top of party. But alas, you can govern not without a mandate. - - - - Gustav Nyqvist Gustav What In almost all all almost In LOOKING AT SWEDISH

- through the lens of European Elections European - through the lens of THE One looking of way the at swedish election is to The Swedish Green Party finally (MP) made acrossit governing together with the Social Democrats, long time core values has come question into and steadily dropped Many voters have left, Many voters have feeling betrayed on immigration policy during the migrant crisis in 2015. Since they started scandals and controversies, they are polling only just above barrier. percent 4 the Since the global debate on climate change, the party fluc tuates around as 7 percent. late, following of a couple Yet of the 4 percent barrier the into Swedish Parliament, the Riksdag, in 1988. The environment, specifically maritime pollution, debated in 1988 held the party around 5 percent. Green: century long steady 45 percent. They are since then used to a 30 percent mandate. A decline presumably due to new parties, adding some new colors to the political spectrum. spectrum. will see not We a dramatic decline in the Swedish parliament election this fall. The Social Democrats start (S) ed declining in the beginning the of 1990s, after an almost elections Mainstream parties Europe. around their lost have comfortable front seats row to new parties from across the Marche. varyinga degree, To the story is the same in most national Another trend is the rise new of political parties. happened in France was course of the entrance En of round’ with 51 percent the of votes. Many described the fall as a collapse the of Socialist Party. of theof votes. His predecessor percent 28 got the of votes in 2012 and then later won the presidency in the ‘second litical mainstream parties. In some cases in last - like year’s ‘firstround’ presidential electionFrance in we - saw Bennoit Hammon from the french socialist party 6,4 get percent To begin with: declining mainstream parties. mainstream declining with: begin To national elections around Europe, you see a decline in po look at what has been going on in other elections around around elections other in on going been has what at look clear. are trends few A Europe.

26 29

- Photo: fee.org Photo: open. While it mightbe possible for it to join the liberals of the AllianceLiberals of and Democratsfor Europe(ALDE), it is more often speculated that Macron will tryto create a new centrist European political grouping, although it is not clearyet which allies it would draw from other countries. variable Greek the and elections national Upcoming One the of most notable elections in 2018 will be the Swedish one, where current polls see the Social Democrats on top, followed the by Moderates andthe Swedish Democrats. Other parliamentary electionscountries schedEU in are uledfor Slovenia, Latvia, Estonia, Finland and Luxembourg in the coming months. What stands out is the consistently intricate case Greece, of where elections are scheduled for 2019, late as it remains a volatile setting where it is not inconceivable expect to earlier snap elections, as already happenedin 2015. And with Prime party Minister Tsipras’s trailing opposition behind their the in center-right polls, the pendingquestion Greek of leadership can be crucial for the future the of country in the Union. - of the nex parliament. " parliament. nex the of have indeed displayed the potential potential the displayed indeed have " Some of the latest national elections elections national latest the of " Some for substantial changesin the composition Emmanuel Macron Emmanuel The Brexit seats With the UK officially to set theleave Union in March 2019, its 73 seats in the parliament EU will be vacated.all Not of them will be freed 27 up: seats will be reallocated among in underrepresented: be deemed to fourteenthe countries particular, France, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands will gain the most seats; this will bring the total number repre of sentatives to 705. What is to be considered here is that the departure UKIP of will the leave Italian Five StarMovement as the only major party in the Freedom Europe of and Direct Democracy group, who (EFDD) will therefore need to rethink their European alliances and perhaps seek new chances. card wild Macron’s An important spotlight will be set on the French stage, whereMacron willneed toconsolidate its 2017victory in order to advance his European reform project. His party La République Marche En (LREM) will be a newcomer in the EU parliament, and the question its of political allegiance is still

- - - - - Source: wikimediacommons.org Source: ELECTIONS mances parties of such as Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the Austrian FPÖ. For instance, the European political group Nations Europe of and Freedom (ENF), which in fact comprises parties far-right such as Lega Nord, the French National Front, and FPÖ, can be expected to substantially from ingrow size the mere 36 seats they currently hold. center-right Europeancenter-right People’s Party and the (EPP), center- left Progressive Alliance Socialists of and Democrats (S&D). Out 751 of seats, holds EPP 217 and S&D 189. The 2014 elec alsotions, saw the upsurge however, Eurosceptic of and na Independence UK the parties, including tionalist famously Party (UKIP) and the Freedom Party Austria of (FPÖ), a trend that is far from being today. over Four years passed, have and with traditional parties strug gling in elections trend Europe all (a over particularly visi ble for social-democratic forces), the share the for of vote populistparties can be expected tobe higher than in the lastballots. surprisinglyNot so, given results suchas the triumphLega Nord far-right and of the anti-establishment Five Star and Movement the in Italy, confirmationof the Orbán regime in Hungary, as well as the electoral perfor - - - - - MikaelLassa THE ROAD TO THE ROAD European Parliament Composition 2017 Composition Parliament European EUROPEAN EUROPEAN 2019 The old and the new the and old The The current scenery the of parliament EU is dominated twoby major parliamentarygroups, namely the broadly to the elections. ispremature for accurate predictions, there aresever al themes and events that might give on a hint the path European politics cantake inthe turbulent monthsleading played the potential for substantial changes in the com position the of next parliament.And though even thetime ity the of electoral landscape that the recent elections in France, Hungary, among Italy, Germany, others, set have up. Some the of latest national elections indeed have dis Any seriousAny forecast would need to consider the complex gularly difficult to predict. And yet the question of the the of question the yet And predict. to difficult gularly next EU elections is starting to be a pressing matter in Brussels, with even a year left. for the ninth EU parliament. European elections are often often are elections parliament. European EU ninth the for continent-wide of complexity the of representation the sin outcomes their making currents, and trends political In 2019 May European citizens will be called to vote

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