NEWS

ABOUT DEMOCRACY

The ‘Third Wave of Democracy’ started in the early 1970’ies, when officers in Portugal rose up against the dictatorship. From Portugal, the spirit of democracy spread like a bushfire from country to country, and from region to region. Today, more people than ever before live in a democracy, but right now democracy is under pressure in many countries.

TEN YEARS OF LEARNING

DIPD - Dansk Institut for Partier og Demokrati - udsendte for nogle måneder siden et katalog over erfaringer fra instituttets første 10 leveår. Det giver jeg her - som direktør for DIPD i en stor del af denne periode - nogle kommentarer med på vejen,

NEW STRATEGY FOR DIPD

The Danish Institute for Parties and Democracy (DIPD) have just presented a new strategy for 2021-25, ten years after the institute established by the Danish parliament started its first activities in January 2011. Does the strategy make sense in the world we have today?

COVID-19 WEAKENS DEMOCRACY

The Economist Democracy Index 2020 has just been released. It focuses on the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the numbers show that democracy is in trouble in most parts of the world.

INTERNATIONAL DEMOCRACY DAY 2020

Today, 15 September 2020, is the United Nations International Day of Democracy. A day to celebrate the ideas and principles of democracy that should be the framework for how we develop our societies in a peaceful manner, recognizing that we disagree on many issues.

DIPD ANNUAL REPORT 2019

The 2019 Annual Report from the Danish Institute for Parties and Democracy [DIPD] offers an interesting insight into efforts by the institute and the involved Danish political parties to contribute to democratization in various parts of the global South.

GAME OVER FOR EVO MORALES

I receive the news about President Evo Morales stepping down with sadness as well as happiness. When elected back in 2005, he was the president I felt Bolivia had deserved ever since independence in 1825, following almost 300 years of Spanish conquest and colonization, and following almost 200 military coups. But I am happy that his attempt to continue ruling undemocratically has failed.

ABOUT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

With the agreement in the UN in 2015 about the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, the world has set a course for what needs to be done by 2030. We know how we can improve livelihoods for the poor, reduce inequality, protect human rights and find environmentally friendly and sustainable solutions. The big question is if we have the political will to do what is needed?

Danmarks Indsamling 2023

Verden har ændret sig siden den 24. februar i år, og siden der blev afholdt Danmarks Indsamling i slutningen af januar. Først samlede vi ind til corona-krisens børn, og derefter til Ukraines befolkning. Og derefter lod regeringen de fattigste i verden betale en del af regningen for flygtninge fra Ukraine. En svinestreg! Men måske kan udviklingen bidrage til, at vi får en anden slags indsamling i 2023.

VI TROR VI KAN MÅLE ALT

Fredag den 16. april 2021 udkommer mine nye bog: VI TROR VI KAN MÅLE ALT. EN HISTORIE OM UDVIKLING. Et kvart århundrede efter at have boet i Zimbabwe, kører jeg flere tusinde kilometer gennem landet for at finde ud af, hvordan det er gået med de projekter, vi sammen med lokale ildsjæle søgte at bygge op. Hvad står tilbage? Hvad er der sket med Zimbabwe?

GOOD NEWS FROM ZIMBABWE

The good news coming out of Zimbabwe has nothing to do with Robert Mugabe or the present economic and political situation. No, the good news is from the Binga Craft Centre on the shores of Lake Kariba.

YOUTH MOBILISE ON CLIMATE

On 15 March, I joined the thousands of students gathering in front of the Danish parliament. Inspired by Swedish Greta, they want our politicians, our leaders, to take action, not to continue to talk. They are so right!

“MAN BLIVER ALDRIG DEN SAMME”

I dag - den 24. januar 2019 - udkommer "Man bliver aldrig den sammen", som er en samling fortællinger og samtaler om Mellemfolkeligt Samvirkes historie gennem 75 år.

SUPPORT FOR DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION?

For decades, the Danes have been asked about their support - or the opposite - for development cooperation. In general, a majority of the population has been supportive. In March, a selection of 1001 persons were asked their opinion about the impact of development cooperation, i.e. if people think that it works or helps?

ABOUT SELECTED COUNTRIES

My work has allowed me to follow developments in many countries. However, some countries I have come to know more intimately than others. This is the case with Botswana and Zimbabwe, where I have lived for longer periods. Countries like Bhutan, Myanmar and Nepal have been my working territory in recent years. These five countries will be my focus.

CORONA [11] – CAN SOUTH AFRICA HELP?

Envoys from South Africa have visited President Mnangagwa to find ways of bringing normalcy to the situation. And former finance minister Tendai Biti from the opposition has offered his views. Is Covid-19 the worst threat to the future of Zimbabwe?

CORONA [10] – WILL ZIMBABWE COLLAPSE?

A few days ago, I received a copy of a letter in my inbox, sent on 2 April 2020 from the Minister of Finance and Economic Development of Zimbabwe, Prof. M. Ncube, to the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund. The letter paints a dramatic picture of the Zimbabwean economy. It looks like it could collapse, if Zimbabwe receives no help.

CORONA [9] – WHAT NUMBERS TELL US?

Numbers can be confusing. How we use or misuse the numbers equally so. Still, I think we can talk about the number of people dying from COVID-19 without forgetting the number of people dying from malaria, every year, year after year. Let us at least not forget how the world works.

CORONA [8] – ZIMBABWE 1980 – 2020

During the Covid-19 lockdown, Zimbabwe on 18 April celebrated its 40th Independence Anniversary. This normally involves a lot of festivity, but not this year. And to be honest, there is not a lot for ordinary Zimbabweans to celebrate.

CORONA [7] – HOW IS BHUTAN COPING?

Bhutan is a tiny landlocked country in the Himalaya mountains, bordering China to the north and India to the south. Leadership to manage the Corona challenge comes both from the King and from the government.

CORONA [6] – LEADERSHIP DURING CRISIS

It seems like a year ago, but it has actually just been one month since I met with Botswana's former President, Festus Mogae, in his office in Gaborone. One issue was his leadership during the time when Botswana had the highest percentage of HIV-positive citizens in the world - close to one in five.