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Boström, Håkan
editor at Dagens Nyheter, Stockholm
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5 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.
Bolstering democracy in Afghanistan and Pakistan
The daily Dagens Nyheter asks why is it necessary to continue backing the democratic forces in the region, answering: "For the average Afghan and Pakistani the terrorist logic must seem horrendous - regardless of their attitude toward the presence of foreign [troops] in Afghanistan. The Taliban oppose democracy on principle. But the reason they didn't take part in the elections is that they know that they don't have the support of the majority - otherwise they would have tried to undermine it from within the democratic system. The international community should therefore continue its efforts to strengthen democracy in the region and at the same time support the Afghan and Pakistani governments in their efforts to maintain law and order. And until Afghanistan's government has its territory under control military support will also be required. The alternative would be to abandon the field to a hoard of brutal murderers."
» full article (external link, Swedish)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Afghanistan, » Pakistan
Sweden's unhappy individualists
According to the World Value Survey, no country in the world is as secularised as Sweden. Nowhere else is self-fulfilment so highly valued, and nowhere else do values like family, nation and faith play such a small role. But an individualistic lifestyle is no recipe for happiness, writes the daily Dagens Nyheter: "Parallel to the development of material prosperity, the Swedes have turned inward. The old ambitions of studying to become an engineer, working hard, saving money, caring for others and being politically active are now associated with too many sacrifices. Instead the solitary ego has taken centre stage, and people's attitude to society has shifted from production to consumption. That has not made us any happier. Or is it a coincidence that so many people suffer from depression and mental disorders in the country where 'self-fulfilment' is the most appreciated? ... The fact is that even a true individualist needs something he can fight for - other than himself."
» full article (external link, Swedish)
More from the press review on the subject » Religion, » Social movements, » Weltanschauung, » Sweden, » Global
EU must make demands on Albania
According to information from the Albanian civil rights movement Mjaft! recently communicated to the Swedish EU Presidency in Stockholm, corruption is rife in Albania. It said in some cases the state functioned according to mafia-like principles. The daily Dagens Nyheter is worried about the southeastern European state, which applied for EU membership at the end of April: "Hopefully the Swedish government is listening to what [Mjaft! member Erion] Veliaj has to say. The Union must express itself clearly when it demands something from a country that wishes to become a member of the EU. The liberation from communism must not be done sloppily. National interests in the sphere of trade and investment should not prevent EU member states from making demands with respect to democracy and human rights. ... The possibility of EU membership is a very good means of exerting pressure - it just needs to be used."
» full article (external link, Swedish)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » EU Policy, » Europe, » Albania
Håkan Boström on the fascination of evil
Writing in the daily Dagens Nyheter Håkan Boström defends the press against criticism in connection with coverage of the incest trial against the Austrian Josef Fritzl: "Those who condemn the media are being too simplistic. Obviously for some reason murder, violence and horrendous attacks sell well. Is our reluctance to understand this 'evil' perhaps the result of our fascination with this evil? Could it be that we need it – just as we need heroes and princesses – in a world that would otherwise seem barren and meaningless? Are we perhaps witnessing the return of Romanticism or even the belated revenge of the Middle Ages on the Age of Enlightenment? This would indeed be a depressing thesis. But the wave of crime novels and films, the media's murder hysteria and not least the drama surrounding the 'trial of the century' and the evil in Josef Fritzl's cellar demonstrate that this conclusion is dangerously credible."
» full article (external link, Swedish)
More from the press review on the subject » Media policy, » Sweden, » Austria, » Global
Sweden needs clear anti-discrimination rules
Foreigners and people with un-Swedish names have a hard time finding a job or a place to live in Sweden. Dagens Nyheter calls for clear rules for equal treatment: "Several studies have shown that a foreign-sounding name will decrease a person's chances of being invited to a job interview or to visit a flat. The ombudsman against ethnic discrimination yesterday presented a report reconfirming these findings for the housing market. The ombudsman correctly points out that many landlords lack clear rules on things like waiting lists, for example. That allows them to discriminate at will. To have equal treatment we need clear rules. Establishing these is not always easy, but it should be easier for rentals than for job interviews."
» full article (external link, Swedish)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Integration, » Sweden
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