The more or less only thing international media reported on during the recent election campaign in Sweden, was the increased support for the right-wing party, the Swedish Democrats. How could this happen? In harmonic, prosperous Sweden? The home of ABBA and IKEA?

The obvious answer is, of course, the huge amount of migrants from, mainly, Muslim countries. This peaked during 2015. But Sweden has received many thousands of refugees from, among others, Iraq in the years before that. Too many of the migrants have not integrated well into society. With high unemployment, crime gangs and burning cars as a result.  [Read more…]

Watching the final debate between the leaders of the political parties in Sweden, my reflection was a very different one from the one that was dominant in the media.

I started to imagine what it would be like for someone in a country like Guatemala, to follow the Swedish election campaign.

For those of you who are not updated: Sweden held its national elections two weeks ago. The mayor, governing party since World War II has been the Social Democratic party. And in later decades interchangeably, centre-right coalitions. What was new this year was the increased support for the anti-immigration party, the Swedish Democrats. The only sensational thing happening in responsible, but oh so dull Swedish politics for decades.

I have lived in Guatemala, but it is just an example of a country that is officially a democracy. But where power and wealth are in the hands of a minor elite, while larger parts of the population live in poverty. Corruption and impunity is rife. Most people on this planet live in malfunctioning countries like that; or in countries where you are not even able to vote.

[Read more…]

I regularly amuse myself, especially in other countries, with making observations about people’s behaviour.

Everybody makes these observations. And are often eager to share them with compatriots or other expats: “Can you believe what I saw them do!!??!!”.

But have you ever been thinking that such observations may be useful to your work?

That they may be just as good a guideline as any country report?

Such observations can be even more useful when you compare countries. Making you understand why what worked in one country may not in another.

 

 

Observed Differences Between two “C” Countries: Colombia and Cambodia

 In Colombia, most street vendors and taxi drivers have change. In Cambodia never.

[Read more…]