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Learning from the Swedish
6 articles
Ecrit par Aidan OSullivan
CV : Hi! I am a 29 yr old member of the Irish Labour Party. Having worked abroad for six yrs (US, Germany, Spain) and now home, I am always looking for areas Ireland can learn from Europe - from the 'Nordic model' especially. During next week I will travel to Sweden and follow the election campaign from our fellow Social Democrats as close as possible.
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Victory - 13-09-2006 13:57:24 - Il faut être connecté pour poster un commentaire. Veuillez vous identifier ou vous enregistrer ici
Well, we're home now a few days and very glad we went.
I have been thinking about why Sweden is still so far ahead of Ireland in so many ways, and apart from the fact it developed decades before us, I can think of two main reasons: the list electoral system which allows for national politicians to focus on national issues and decide what’s best for the country as a whole, rather than our system which drags them always back to the local level. A full list system also has disadvantages,
so many a semi-list system is the way forward for Ireland.
Also the fact 40% of Swedish MPs are female and only 13% in Ireland plays a major role. How can we build a society for all of the people, which reflects the values and perspectives of all people, when only 13% of our decision-makers are women. Women also tend to be consensus builders, better listeners and prefer discussing than debating. All assets when designing a real modern social democracy. I firmly believe we in Ireland need to move to implement quotas for women.
This blog is mirrored here including some pics:
http://www.aidanosullivan.info/stockholm06/
You can read a report of what Europe can learn from the Nordic model here:
http://www.socialistgroup.org/gpes/searchdisplay.do?id=7037&lg=en
This exchange of ideas across Europe is a fantastic exercise. I encourage all PES members to take similar trips. We in the Irish Labour Party will be attracting activists to Dublin next Spring for our election, so you are all very welcome...
Now fingers crossed for victory in Sweden this weekend, and victory in Dublin 2007........ -
So far behind.. - 09-09-2006 18:20:36 - Il faut être connecté pour poster un commentaire. Veuillez vous identifier ou vous enregistrer ici
Oh hangover this morning, up early....
Ireland really still is decades behind European countries like Sweden....in whatever area...infrastructure, public transport, childcare, indigenous knowledge industries, female political participation....
Ireland is very economically sucessful now, largely based on our low corporation tax, but we have many areas in which to improve. Looking to places like Sweden for lessons can only help.
We were helping at a Social Democrats stand today outside a shopping and cultural center. Again, we met many friendly and mature activists, got some campaigning ideas and collected some email addresses.
A Social Democrat Member of Parliament was there and the first thing he said when he knew I was Irish - "Ah, with the low corporation tax! Social Dumping!!". I didnt mention it was our own Labour Finance minster who secured this critical competitive advantage for Ireland.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Ireland_corporation_tax
Knowing how large and complex an issue tax is in Europe is now, I just changed topic. He did say they are now knocking on doors to meet people more now, just like we do in Ireland. I said I admired the way so many candiadates were so young (and female), which is not the case in Ireland.
But again, the amount of resources the Social Democrats can bring to a campaign is huge and nothing compared to us in Ireland. But there is no reason we can not learn from the activist energy, organization and campaigning ideas. Not everything can be copied of course, the Irish political culture is different, some things would just not work with Irish people in addition to the different electoral systems.
We want to hit an Irish pub tonight (must be done!), maybe some food, maybe chat to some Swedish girls :), then meet up for the last nite with our friends in SSU.
If James doesnt snore again tonite, I might even get some sleep.... :)
Home tomorrow.... -
Alla ska med - 08-09-2006 19:03:56 - Il faut être connecté pour poster un commentaire. Veuillez vous identifier ou vous enregistrer ici
"Alla ska med" is the slogan for the Social Democrats is this election, it means roughly "Everyone should be included", and this really is what Social Democracy is about isnt it, that we try to move society forward together, not splitting into divisions based on wealth or ethic groupings, but maintain that cohesion.
Today we helped bring 40,000 letters to first time voters to the main post office, then handed out roses outside a mosque here in Stockholm. Then myself and James visited the partys youth wing HQ (very impressive) and were interviewed on web radio.
After we went to a rally the Prime Minister held in the main hall of the central station. A rock band preceeded him on stage and his speech seemed well delivered (we didnt understand a word!). But he had a relaxed conversational style, walking around the stage, mic in hand, other hand in pocket... the crowd liked it but werent falling over in adoration...
...dinner tonite...and few more drinks no doubt... :) -
Night postering... - 08-09-2006 08:33:28 - Il faut être connecté pour poster un commentaire. Veuillez vous identifier ou vous enregistrer ici
We met our Social Democratic contacts last night...part of the Stockholm county organization. There was about 15 workers in the offices plus another half dozen from Denmark. Most it seems are political students, displaying great maturity, commitment and friendliness.
The resouces at the disposal of the Social Democrats here is far greater than anything we have at home. Every student official has an office, they has all the facilities they need to mount campaigns and have hire a number of vans for campaign activities.
Interesting that they often do tours of schools, not only for first time voters, but future voters. Something we fail to do at home.
After a nice intro to all the members last night and welcome, we spent a hour late last night postering around the area of Solna. The poster was of a 25yr old female candidate! Again, would be rarely seen at home unfortunately! It was good fun, my first ever postering I was embarrassed to admit!! Afterward, the Irish headed for the mandatory drinks in the city center. The cocktails were nice, and Swedish women even nicer...
Up early this morning, sun is out, have full day ahead... -
Arrival... - 07-09-2006 20:23:06 - Il faut être connecté pour poster un commentaire. Veuillez vous identifier ou vous enregistrer ici
We arrived this evening in Stockholm. Immediately we can notice how well organized Sweden is compared to Ireland, efficient airport, fast train link to city center...oh come to Ireland! After dinner we were a little shocked by news from Ireland, that may be a snap election at home soon, so we are watching the Irish news at the moment more than Swedish...
Anyway, about the election here next week. There does not seem to be a lot of evidence that an election will take place next week, apart from a few posters at bus stops. Very different from the billboards and poll posters at home.
The minority government of Göran Persson's Social Democratic Party will try to win enough seats to form a majority government, to continue in minority or to govern in a red-green coalition government. His party has been in power since 1994. The Social Democrats now have an agreement with the Left Party and the Green Party that gives them an influence on government policy in exchange for their support. However, both the Left Party and the Green Party now insist that any red-green government after the election must include them in a coalition.
The four centre-right parties united in Alliance for Sweden will try to gain enough seats to form a coalition government. The four parties (currently in opposition) have presented a joint election manifesto. Their candidate for Prime Minister is the Moderate Party leader Fredrik Reinfeldt.
Off now to meet our Social Democratic friends... -
Here we go... - 05-09-2006 17:19:27 - Il faut être connecté pour poster un commentaire. Veuillez vous identifier ou vous enregistrer ici
Hi!
I am a 29 yr old Irish guy. Having worked abroad for six yrs (US, Germany, Spain) I came home in 2004 and joined the Irish Labour Party. I am always looking for areas Ireland can learn from Europe. I am interested especially in the 'Nordic model', which combines high levels of equality and social cohesion with world-class economic competiveness.
With the election next week, myself and a colleague are travelling to Stockholm this weekend. We want to listen and learn from fellow Social Democrats. Staying away from the Irish pubs of Stockholm will be the only hard part :-)
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