Sökformulär

Sweden

Sweden-Norway at the Berlin Conference 1884–85 : History, national identity-making and Sweden's relations with Africa

Upphovsperson: Nilsson, David
Utgivare: Nordiska Afrikainstitutet, Agrarian Change, Property and Resources |
År: 2013
Ämnesord: Sweden, Africa, Foreign relations, colonialism, International politics, Colonial history
The image of Sweden is one of a small, democratic and peace-loving country without the moral burden of a colonial past. However, in this Current African Issues publication, the notion that Sweden lacks a colonial past in Africa is brought into question. At the Berlin Conference 1884–85, the rules for colonisation of Africa were agreed upon among a handful of white men. With the blessing of King Oscar II, the united kingdoms of Sweden-Norway participated in the Berlin conference, ratified the resulting convention and signed a trade agreement with King Leopold’s International Congo Association. Thereafter, hundreds of Swedish militaries, seamen and missionaries took an active part in the brutal colonial project in the Congo. What was Sweden-Norway really doing at the Berlin Conference and in the ensuing Scramble for Africa? Is it now time to re-assess Swedish identity in relation to Africa, an identity so far centered on colonial innocence? Dr DAVID NILSSON is a researcher at the Division of History of Science, Technology and Environment, Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden. His research focuses on global longtermperspectives on sustainable development in Africa.

Sweden and national liberation in Southern Africa. Vol. 1, Formation of a popular opinion (1950-1970)

Upphovsperson: Sellström, Tor
Utgivare: Nordiska Afrikainstitutet | Uppsala : Nordiska Afrikainstitutet
År: 1999
Ämnesord: Sweden, Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Southern Africa, Foreign relations, National liberation movements, Youth organizations, SOCIAL SCIENCES, SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP
In 1969, the Swedish parliament endorsed a policy of direct assistance to the liberation movements in Southern Africa. Sweden thus became the first Western country to enter into a relationship with organizations that elsewhere in the West were shunned as ‘Communist’ or ‘terrorist’. This book traces the background to the relationship. Presenting the actors and the factors behind the support to MPLA of Angola, FRELIMO of Mozambique, SWAPO of Namibia, ZANU and ZAPU of Zimbabwe and ANC of South Africa, it addresses the question why Sweden established those close relations with the very movements that eventually would assume state power in their respective countries. The second volume (appearing in late 1999) will discuss how the support was expressed, covering the period from 1970 to 1994.

Sweden and national liberation in Southern Africa : Vol. 2, Solidarity and assistance 1970-1994

Upphovsperson: Sellström, Tor
Utgivare: Nordiska Afrikainstitutet | Uppsala : Nordiska Afrikainstitutet
År: 2002
Ämnesord: Churches, Foreign relations, national liberation movements, Solidarity organizations, Trade unions, youth organisations, ANC, FRELIMO, Inkatha, MPLA, PAC, PAIGC, SWAPO, UDF, ZANU, ZAPU, Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Sweden, Zimbabwe, SOCIAL SCIENCES, SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP
Sweden’s and the other Nordic countries’ support for the national liberation process and struggle against apartheid was unique in the international context both in regard to the size of the financial support and the extensive popular involvement. This book attempts to document the involvement of Sweden in the Southern African struggles against colonialism, occupation and white minority rule. While Volume I set out to identify the actors and factors behind the involvement, the aim of the present volume is to illustrate the Swedish participation. The focus of this study is on official assistance to the national liberation movements but the important role played by the organized Swedish solidarity movement and other non-governmental organizations also forms part of the narration. The study also attempts to contribute to a broader understanding of the international aspects of the Thirty Years’ War in the region, a significant chapter in the quest for national self-determination, democracy and human rights towards the end of the troubled 20th century. Primarily written for the general reader interested in relations between Sweden and the Southern African liberation movements, the presentation should also provide material and theoretical enquiries with regard to, for example, Swedish foreign policy in the cold war era; regional developments in a bipolar world; and the diplomatic initiatives, political alliances and material conditions of the different movements. This book is a part of the Nordic Africa Institute’s Research Project National Liberation in Southern Africa. The Role of the Nordic Countries. The result of the project is a unique documentation, mainly drawing on hitherto restricted official primary sources. This book, together with the other studies published within the project, forms a valuable reference source for everyone interested in the 20th century history of Southern Africa in particular or North/South and international relations in general.

The Africa policies of Nordic countries and the erosion of the Nordic aid model : a comparative study

Upphovsperson: Odén, Bertil
Utgivare: Nordiska Afrikainstitutet | Uppsala : Nordiska Afrikainstitutet
År: 2011
Ämnesord: Foreign aid, Development aid, Foreign policy, Foreign relations, International cooperation, Aid policy, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Africa, Political science, Statsvetenskap
The aid policies of the Nordic countries – Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden – once had so many distinctive characteristics in common they were sometimes referred to as the “Nordic model”. Now, however, this model has all but disappeared. This paper explores how this came about and examines the current development cooperation policies of the Nordic countries in Africa. In this respect, Nordic countries are now moving along divergent trajectories and becoming part of new donor constellations. This paper is based on a content analysis of official documents and face-to-face interviews with policy makers and key opinion shapers in the four countries. In addition to discussing the aim and role of current Nordic Africa policies and strategies, the paper provides an historical overview of Nordic cooperation with Africa and compares the Africa policy documents of the four Nordic countries. Finally, some suggestions regarding the scope for future Nordic cooperation are presented.

Migrant remittances. An overview of global and Swedish flows

Upphovsperson: Engdahl, Mattias
Utgivare: Nordiska Afrikainstitutet, Globalization, Trade and Regional Integration | Uppsala : Nordiska Afrikainstitutet
År: 2009
Ämnesord: Migrant workers, Remittances, Capital movements, Developing countries, Sweden, Foreign aid, Development policy, economics, Nationalekonomi
Migrant remittances – money and gifts sent to relatives back home – have attracted increasing international attention. The flow of remittances has become a major source of revenue for developing countries, exceeding the volume of aid. Three recent studies at Uppsala University bring this issue to light in the context of Sweden’s Policy for Global Development. Very little has so far been known about the flow of remittances from Sweden; official data indicate an amount exceeding 4 billion kronor in 2006. The real flows are most likely higher; Swedish and international studies estimate that real remittances are 30-50 per cent above the officially recorded amounts. Statistics Sweden (SCB) is recommended to enhance its records of remittances in terms of desirable scope and reliability, for instance regarding specification of the amounts remitted to different countries. Remittance flows from Sweden are linked to the remitters’ incomes and, hence, vary with the business cycle. Experience suggests that the ongoing world economic crisis will have a negative impact on remittance flows also from Sweden. It is suggested that enhanced knowledge in Sweden about available remittance services and their costs and measures to promote a better functioning remittance market could increase the net value of these money.

Re-thinking Africa : A Contribution to the Swedish Government White Paper on Africa

Upphovspersoner: Arnfred, Signe | Utas, Mats | Cheru, Fantu | Hammar, Amanda | Havnevik, Kjell | Kamete, Amin Y. | Lindell, Ilda | Myhre, Knut Christian | Ngangjoh Hodu, Yenkong | Obi, Cyril I. | Oinas, Elina | Palmberg, Mai | Thorsen, Dorte
Utgivare: Nordiska Afrikainstitutet | Uppsala : Nordiska Afrikainstitutet
År: 2007
Ämnesord: Foreign relations, Development aid, International cooperation, Government policy, Sweden, Africa South of Sahara, Political science, Statsvetenskap
Edited by Signe Arnfred and Mats Utas.

Natural resources in sub-Saharan Africa : assets and vulnerabilities

Upphovsperson: Holmberg, Johan
Utgivare: Nordiska Afrikainstitutet | Uppsala : Nordiska Afrikainstitutet
År: 2008
Ämnesord: natural resources, Climate change, Environmental effects, Agricultural sector, Sustainable development, Development strategy, Policy making, Africa South of Sahara, Sweden, SOCIAL SCIENCES, SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP
Africa is rich in oil and mineral resources, but has severe shortages of water and suffers from an accelerating pressure on its arable land and forests. Climate change is expected to cause major problems for African populations with increase of water stress and severely compromised agricultural production. Local food supplies will be negatively affected and, towards the end of the 21st century, sea-level rise will affect low-lying coastal areas. The report argues that the poorest countries are most vulnerable to climate change and that Africa is particularly exposed. Sweden should consider full integration of climate change adaptation strategies in its development cooperation with African partners. This will likely mean that some existing priorities will be further accentuated, such as needs to provide water and sanitation services to the poor, raising agricultural productivity, and curbing deforestation.

The African economy and its role in the world economy

Upphovspersoner: Bigsten, Arne | Durevall, Dick
Utgivare: Nordiska Afrikainstitutet | Uppsala : Nordiska Afrikainstitutet
År: 2008
Ämnesord: Economic performance, international economic relations, international trade, Capital movements, Globalization, Structural adjustment, Economic and social development, Policy making, Africa South of Sahara, Sweden, Business and economics, Ekonomi
In a broad survey this issue of Current African Issues presents a multifaceted picture of the current state of the African economy. After a period of falling per capita incomes that started in the 1970s, Africa finally saw a turnaround from about 1995. The last few years have seen average per capita incomes in Africa grow by above 3 per cent per year on average, partly due to the resource boom but also due to improved economic policies. Africa receives more aid per capita than any other major region in the world and there is a significantly positive effect of aid on growth. One of the most notable aspects of the current process of globalisation is the increase in trade between Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, particularly China and India. The authors conclude with a call for policy coherence among donors. The politically most problematic areas for policy change of those discussed in the paper are not aid policy but trade policy and the European Union CAP (Common Agricultural Policy). This is a challenge to EU policy makers, since the latter areas are probably the most important to change if we take our commitment to development seriously.

Sidor