C) THE MIDDLE EAST AND SWEDEN:
15: YLVP participants are bursting with ideas about what their country needs most right now.
Asked in late May 2011, after the success of the revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia and while the uprisings in Libya, Syria and Yemen are in progress, YLVP participants respond with enthusiasm to the question: “What does your country need most right now?” The responses were passionate and varied. Here are some examples:
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“A structure. What we need is basically a structure where people can feel secure and safe. Then start with the secondary things.”
“Public awareness on what democracy, liberalism and secularism means. “
“Freedom and peace.”
“Stopping the bloodbath.”
“Youth empowerment, but by practicing it, not through advocacy.”
“Better journalism.”
“Democratization and rule of law.”
“Political awareness and democracy.”
“Changing the constitution.”
“I think we need more social justice.”
“Mobilizing minds! Jordanians seek democracy and freedom of expression. However, following the upheavals, I noticed that although they broke the barrier of fear to speak, their agendas and protests are not clear and not well mobilized!”
“Progress yet preservation… Sustainability that arises from the Earth & doesn’t kill the spirit.”
“All the domains need to be improved (economy, politics, social and education).”
“Local and International organizations that work on human rights, democracy, and social media for better social and political inclusion.”
“Civics: you can’t ask for your governments to change if you’re not willing to change yourself and become a more responsible citizen.”
“I think what the people of my country (Algeria) need is to understand is that the situation there is not the same as in Tunisia or Egypt. Political awareness is the key notion in these times of change, because change for the sake of change is most dangerous. Youth need to take actions and to be more engaged in civic activities.”
“Freedom from occupation, and a chance for people to live and begin our state.”
What Lebanon needs most is an end to sectarian divisions. Lebanon also needs accountability or a new consciousness when it comes to corruption. The situation of domestic and migrant workers as well as Palestinian refugees is unacceptable (racism, low wages, no time off). Public transportation, telecommunications, and the electricity infrastructure are disastrous. The environment is also being destroyed at alarming rates.”
“Campaigns to raise political awareness, and an active civil rights movement. Reform. Dialogue. Internet security. “
“Freedom of expression, dialogue, equality.”
“To push public opinion towards a peaceful youth revolution.”
“An organised youth movement.”
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16: Most want Sweden to help the region; some do not.
As a follow-up to the question, “What does your country need most right now?” we asked: “Is there anything that Sweden can do to help alleviate this need?” Most want Sweden to help, spelling out in specific terms how it could help. Some feel that Sweden could not, or should not. Here are some suggestions:
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“No. I believe that Tunisians should do what they think should be done by themselves, making mistakes and trying to correct them. That is how we learn. That is how we avoid future mistakes and build a strong society.”
“No.”
“Assist our passage to democracy.”
“[Set up a] YLVP in each country by using YLVP graduates to spread the content of the program and to help raise awareness of media and information technology.”
“[We should] learn from Sweden’s experience; the process deserves studying.”
“Strengthen economic ties.”
“Put pressure on the EU to support the causes of protesters and activists in the ongoing uprisings.”
“Communicate about the Swedish model of parliamentarian monarchy, as it’s the model Moroccan people are seeking.”
“Well this question makes me feel like an agent. I can ask: Could Sweden play a role without a personal agenda? Or an EU agenda? Or an opposition agenda? Could Sweden provide a platform of dialogue? Could Sweden at least be a role model? I don’t know! Ask the people.”
“Yes. Help young leaders deepen their vision and feed their creativity, and support them to take initiatives after their experience at YLVP: Exchange programs or social entrepreneurship projects… etc.”
“Through international cooperation institutions — SIDA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — many projects/experience exchanges can contribute to the development of a free & democratic structure of society, as well as development.”
“Yes, teach us how to transmit civic behavior to people, now our countries have taken the move for democracy. Governments are changing but what about people? How can they become responsible citizens?”
“Pressure the international community to cut off aid to [the remaining] regimes. They use the money to kill their own people.”
“Economic development programs for young people.”
“I think that more programs like the YLVP can be a great help. An initiative coming from a country that is known to support human rights and democracy (without meddling in the country’s internal affairs, as is the case with France, UK and the USA) is much appreciated.”
“I often daydream that Lebanon outsources its governance to Sweden. LOL.”
“In terms of Sweden helping directly with corruption and conflict, I think we have a lot to learn from Swedish ideas about consensus and transparent, flatter hierarchies. Perhaps management workshops for young people, so that the new generation will have knowledge about alternative management options.”
“No.”
“No.”
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17: YLVP alumni name a number social achievements as being at risk in their country.
We asked YLVP alumni the question: “According to you, which social achievement in your country is the most fragile/at risk?” The answers once again prove varied and passionate. Several answers name women’s rights. Others focus on national unity, security, freedom of expression and religious co-existence. Here are some sample responses:
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“General security itself. Nothing is safe anymore; people are losing their values.”
“The Tunisian revolution. The fear from the old regime, the confusion of concepts in the Tunisian mind and the current economic conditions places what was wanted from the revolution at real risk.”
“Social relations, women’s rights.”
“Unity and solidarity.”
“Security.”
“Unity.”
“Women’s rights and empowerment. Secularism. Openness and tolerance of differences.”
“Freedom of speech.”
“The education system is one of the most important domains that leads to the flowering of a society. Education ought to be seriously taken care of and improved.”
“Mainly education, human rights, civil society.”
“Gender equality, freedom of expression, access to information, justice.”
“The right to protest on the streets. Weekly peaceful protests are organised but repression is starting to emerge again.”
“Educational development.”
“Freedom of expression.”
“Religious coexistence.”
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18: YLVP participants love Sweden, but are not sure they want to live or work there.
In a series of questions aimed at the non-Swedes among YLVP participants, we ask how their perception of Sweden has changed as a result of their visit. Not surprisingly, large majorities say that they now agree more that they “know Sweden well,” that “Sweden is a good place to visit”, “Sweden is a good place to study”, “Swedish products and brands are trustworthy,” and that “Swedish people are trustworthy”.
In part, these large favorable majorities may have to do with being polite to their Swedish hosts. However, two statements fail to get a majority to “agree more” to after their visit: That “Sweden is a good place to do business” and that “Sweden is a good place to live and work.”
| As a result of your participation in YLVP in Sweden, how has your opinion of Sweden changed? | ||||
| Agree more | No change | Agree less | Do not know | |
| I know Sweden well | 82% | 9% | 6% | 3% |
| Sweden is a good place to visit | 85% | 15% | 0% | 0% |
| Sweden is a good place to study | 79% | 9% | 0% | 12% |
| Sweden is a good place to live and work | 47% | 18% | 15% | 21% |
| Sweden is a good place to do business | 42% | 21% | 6% | 30% |
| Swedish products and brands are trustworthy | 76% | 9% | 0% | 15% |
| Swedish people are trustworthy | 76% | 12% | 3% | 9% |
19: YLVP participants keep in touch with Swedes, less so with Swedish institutions.
Half of all participants are still in constant contact with individual Swedes as a result of YLVP; all but one of the remainder is still in occasional contact with a Swede. The success rate is lower for Swedish NGOs and governmental organizations: Almost half continue to have either constant or occasional contact with a Swedish NGO, vs only around 20% for Swedish governmental organizations (other than the Swedish Institute).
| As a result of your participation in YLVP, have you been in contact with… | ||||
| Yes, I still am constantly | Yes, occasionally | Yes, I was but not any longer | No | |
| Individual Swedes? | 50% | 47% | 3% | 0% |
| Swedish non-governmental organizations? | 9% | 38% | 9% | 44% |
| Swedish governmental organizations (other than the Swedish Institute?) | 6% | 15% | 12% | 67% |
20: Most YLVP alumni do not believe that YLVP risks being seen as meddling by Sweden in the internal affairs of their country.
Programs such as the YLVP have on occasion been criticized for being an attempt by foreign governments to meddle in the internal affairs of countries in the Middle East. We specifically wanted to know whether YLVP, which is sponsored by Sweden, runs such a risk.
When asked “Do you believe that in your country, there is a chance that YLVP might be characterized as outside meddling in the internal affairs of your country?”, 62% of YLVP alumni answer “No,” they do not, However, that leaves over one third of participants responding that “Yes,” there is a chance that YLVP might be seen by some as outside interference in the internal affairs of their country.
| Do you believe that in your country, there is a chance that YLVP might be characterized as outside meddling in the internal affairs of your country? | |
| Yes | 37.50% |
| No | 62.50% |
21: Most YLVP alumni do not believe that criticism of YLVP as meddling by Sweden in the internal affairs of their country would be justified.
To see whether YLVP alumni themselves felt that YLVP constitutes outside meddling in the internal affairs of their country, we asked: “Do you yourself think that such a characterization can be justified?” 68% of alumni answered “No,”, leaving just under a third answering “Yes.”
| Do you yourself think that such a characterization can be justified? | |
| Yes | 32.26% |
| No | 67.74% |
The proportion answering “Yes” sounds high, but one reason seems to be that in this instance, the question was not clear. For example, some responses indicate that while it is meddling, this is a good thing. To better understand eventual criticism, we also asked the open-ended question, “If yes, why?” In these answers it is clear that respondents were not sure what the question was asking, and they told us so. Here are some of their responses:
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“because Sweden is pretty neutral now and Lebanese tend to depend on strangers or people supported by a foreign government. As long as we have some tangible results [it's OK].”
“It would be justified under the old regime, when pronouncing the word “human rights” in the “wrong context” could take you and your family to jail or make you subject to torture. Now, that the revolution has happened, I am hoping that answering “no” to that question will be the right answer.”
“Sweden has a high level [of recognition] for democracy and social & economic development, so it’s a passport to every “emergent country”. A Swedish program which pushes young leaders to be springs of positives change will be highly recommended.”
“It depends on the issue and the person.”
“The Swedes have been known for their neutrality in politics and for their enormous support of human rights and democracy. The events happening in the Middle East now are an [inflection] point for next generation. Individuals and youth are in need of direction and preparation to face these challenging, now more than ever. I believe training like that of YLVP in Jordan can help youth face the challenges in the right way and prevent them from sinking into the chaos of unorganized demonstrations and slogans.”
“My country is always in favor of conspiracy theories that refer any issue or problem to foreign hands, regardless.”
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22: If YLVP were sponsored by a country other than Sweden, more YLVP alumni would consider it to be meddling in the region’s internal affairs.
We were interested in knowing whether Sweden’s international reputation inoculated YLVP to a certain extent from criticism that it could be considered outside interference in the internal affairs of Middle Eastern countries. We therefore asked a follow-up question, “Do you yourself think that such a characterization could be justified if another country was sponsoring YLVP (for example the US, France or the UK)?”
While a majority still feel that “No,” sponsorship of YLVP by another country would still not justify a characterization of YLVP as meddling, the proportion of those that feel that it would rises to 42%, up from 32% in the previous question.
| Do you yourself think that such a characterization could be justified if another country was sponsoring YLVP (for example the US, France or the UK)? | |
| Yes | 41.94% |
| No | 58.06% |
We also asked, “If your answer is different from the previous question, why?” Most responses indicate that the colonial/imperial history of the other countries mentioned (US, France, UK) and their current interests in the region undermine participants’ trust in their motives. This mistrust is lacking for Sweden, which is perceived as a neutral actor in the region.
Here are some sample responses:
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“As you know there are three colonial countries, and we have had bad histories with them.”
“If the USA specifically is sponsoring the program, [its success] will be affected by US foreign policy towards the Arab region, and the program will be faced with a lot of challenges [before it is] acceptable to the people in the region.”
“Yes, some from the US working in Yemen are politically driven and therefore they could fit in the above characterization. The EU generally and Sweden specifically are neutral, and their projects consider the local context of every country.”
“I would be more skeptical if YLVP was sponsored by any of these countries.”
“Having the UK, US or France organize any event targeting youth will definitely raise red flags, which means they might be perceived as holding a different/unknown agenda to take advantage of the fragile situation in the Middle East. I dont think any Jordanian, as a result, would participate.”
“Because these countries have always showed imperial/economic interest in the countries of the region.”
“Based on a local analysis of the relationship between Sweden and Palestine, Sweden seems to be very accepted by the local community. The good example of equality and human rights that Sweden has shown on different occasions make it very trustworthy and credible to Palestinians.”
“It’s a Swedish initiative and so it should stay. Sweden is perceived as being neutral while if France or the US started to sponsor such programs, we would start to question the neutrality of the program.”
“The US has a different situation because of its relations with Israel.”
“Because Sweden has its (neutral) position towards Middle Eastern issues. These [other] countries are\were colonizing us, thus they lack objectivity.”
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