Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Sinecure culture
One of the few non-PC columnists in any Swedish newspaper ran an interesting chronicle in yesterday’s Sydsvenskan. He questions the state government’s morals behind the billions of kronors it scoopes out for culture every year. He claims that he has seldom heard any valid motivation from the government on the morality and principles for the state to act as Santa Claus - giving away millions to artists, organisations and institutions.
Why, he asks, should the state concern itself with culture when it has so many holes in the public sector to put the money in. Why, he asks, should the state distribute cash to mime artists, central lyric poets and orchestra conductors when people are dying waiting for an operation.
Too often, he says, he gets the impression that the state hands out cash to persons behind potters wheels and authors whose books are selling poorly and not for the consumers of culture. Why is that, he asks. He thinks one reason is that the cultural sector on the state level is sinecures for hoards of state representatives living on the taxpayers money – like cultural attachés, cultural ministers and advisors as well as state employed director generals.
After all that analysing he states: “I realise that the state cannot totally withdraw from the cultural sphere – there is cultural heritages, churches, ancient relics and monuments, national symbols which cannot, and should not, be privatised.” Now, here is a good start going astray. Why can’t the regional and local levels do that?
To a regionalist it is obvious the state should not involve itself with culture at all, for the simple reason that the cultural and historic borders are different from the state’s borders. The culture of the Samis is basically different from the culture of the Scanians. The Smålander’s culture is likewise different from the Jämtlander’s culture. And so on.
It does not seem to occur to the columnist that the state is in fact the most inappropriate level to deal with culture. If there is one sector that would suitable for regionalisation it’s culture. Regionalising the culture sector to the regions and the municipalities would effectively be beneficial to a more varied cultural diversity to the benefit of all people. Isn’t that the reason we all travel? To meet different people, eat different foods and be entertained in a different way than back home?
It is rather peculiar that the columnist fail to recognise that.
Why, he asks, should the state concern itself with culture when it has so many holes in the public sector to put the money in. Why, he asks, should the state distribute cash to mime artists, central lyric poets and orchestra conductors when people are dying waiting for an operation.
Too often, he says, he gets the impression that the state hands out cash to persons behind potters wheels and authors whose books are selling poorly and not for the consumers of culture. Why is that, he asks. He thinks one reason is that the cultural sector on the state level is sinecures for hoards of state representatives living on the taxpayers money – like cultural attachés, cultural ministers and advisors as well as state employed director generals.
After all that analysing he states: “I realise that the state cannot totally withdraw from the cultural sphere – there is cultural heritages, churches, ancient relics and monuments, national symbols which cannot, and should not, be privatised.” Now, here is a good start going astray. Why can’t the regional and local levels do that?
To a regionalist it is obvious the state should not involve itself with culture at all, for the simple reason that the cultural and historic borders are different from the state’s borders. The culture of the Samis is basically different from the culture of the Scanians. The Smålander’s culture is likewise different from the Jämtlander’s culture. And so on.
It does not seem to occur to the columnist that the state is in fact the most inappropriate level to deal with culture. If there is one sector that would suitable for regionalisation it’s culture. Regionalising the culture sector to the regions and the municipalities would effectively be beneficial to a more varied cultural diversity to the benefit of all people. Isn’t that the reason we all travel? To meet different people, eat different foods and be entertained in a different way than back home?
It is rather peculiar that the columnist fail to recognise that.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Messy Terminology
In one of my previous blog entries the commenter Bert, whose opinion I value but do not always agree with, complains that the use in the blog entry of certain descriptions of phenomenon in the society is wrong or misleading. Län, county, provinces, regions, landscapes (landskap), associations of municipalities. True, these words are often used hastily, all over the place and in a messy way.
And there is a reason for that. The state have for centuries interpreted words to suit the central powers and to confuse everybody else. It is most astonishing that journalists in mass-media, who uses the meaning of words as their working tools, have allowed this to happen.
For instance, the problem with the word or concept of “region” is that it lacks a clear dimension or a principal base of definition. That is why it is used in all imaginable contexts and that makes the debate confusing at best and impossible at worst. By allowing the confusion to continue in the regionalism debate, the mass media is shooting both itself and the citizens in the foot. It allows the central power to continue to use their interpretations to maintain its repressive control of the regions.
A requirement for an open public debate on the future of Sweden, in a European context, is that a reasonable terminological clarity exist with regard to, among other things, the understanding of the concept of “region”.
In 1994 I wrote a book as a contribution to the then ongoing debate on Sweden’s upcoming membership in the EU. The title is “EU and the Regions. Sweden out of step with the times”. In the process of writing the book I came across this particular terminology problem of confusion. The interpretation of words depended of what party or intrest group that was using them.
In order to make sense of my own text in the book I had to start by creating a basic a list of definitions and position it in the beginning of the book. The hope was that potential readers would understand the basis for the terminology in the book.
The list of definitions is found here. In Swedish only. (For non-Swedish readers I recommend Google’s translation service.) It could very well be that some of the definitions need to be upgraded now, fourteen years later.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we all could agree on a basic set of interpretations of the words in order to have a meaningful debate?
And there is a reason for that. The state have for centuries interpreted words to suit the central powers and to confuse everybody else. It is most astonishing that journalists in mass-media, who uses the meaning of words as their working tools, have allowed this to happen.
For instance, the problem with the word or concept of “region” is that it lacks a clear dimension or a principal base of definition. That is why it is used in all imaginable contexts and that makes the debate confusing at best and impossible at worst. By allowing the confusion to continue in the regionalism debate, the mass media is shooting both itself and the citizens in the foot. It allows the central power to continue to use their interpretations to maintain its repressive control of the regions.
A requirement for an open public debate on the future of Sweden, in a European context, is that a reasonable terminological clarity exist with regard to, among other things, the understanding of the concept of “region”.
In 1994 I wrote a book as a contribution to the then ongoing debate on Sweden’s upcoming membership in the EU. The title is “EU and the Regions. Sweden out of step with the times”. In the process of writing the book I came across this particular terminology problem of confusion. The interpretation of words depended of what party or intrest group that was using them.
In order to make sense of my own text in the book I had to start by creating a basic a list of definitions and position it in the beginning of the book. The hope was that potential readers would understand the basis for the terminology in the book.
The list of definitions is found here. In Swedish only. (For non-Swedish readers I recommend Google’s translation service.) It could very well be that some of the definitions need to be upgraded now, fourteen years later.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we all could agree on a basic set of interpretations of the words in order to have a meaningful debate?
Saturday, May 10, 2008
A spring of congresses
A representative of SSF is travelling to Europe this spring in order to participate in two congresses. The first one – UNPO – is held in the EU parliament in Brussels on the 16-17 May and the second one – FUEN – is held in Pécs, Hungary on the 24-26 of May.
Both organisations are operating within the framework of human cultural rights – UNPO from The Hague and FUEN from Flensborg. SSF has maintained membership in both organisations since the early nineties.
The membership in these organisations may come handy since the Swedish government is, the way it looks, seriously considering breaking one basic cultural human rights principle: Do not play with the borders!
There are likely to be secretive negotiations taking place right now between Region Skåne and the Landsting of Kronoberg Län to amalgamate these two entities into one region. This manoeuvre, if it takes place, will fragmentise two historic regions – Scania and Småland.
The three provinces of Småland and the three provinces of Scania have millennia as neighbours but separate entities. This should be respected and the bureaucrats must learn to cooperate across the borders, not to change them.
The fusion of two separate regions must not take place. But if it does, the world should know about it.
Both organisations are operating within the framework of human cultural rights – UNPO from The Hague and FUEN from Flensborg. SSF has maintained membership in both organisations since the early nineties.
The membership in these organisations may come handy since the Swedish government is, the way it looks, seriously considering breaking one basic cultural human rights principle: Do not play with the borders!
There are likely to be secretive negotiations taking place right now between Region Skåne and the Landsting of Kronoberg Län to amalgamate these two entities into one region. This manoeuvre, if it takes place, will fragmentise two historic regions – Scania and Småland.
The three provinces of Småland and the three provinces of Scania have millennia as neighbours but separate entities. This should be respected and the bureaucrats must learn to cooperate across the borders, not to change them.
The fusion of two separate regions must not take place. But if it does, the world should know about it.
Blog translation to Swedish
This blog has been written in English since its creation on the 1 January 2005. The reason is to be able to communicate with other regions in Europe about the situation in Scania as well as making our region more known in the world.
In 2005 and 2006 it was simultaneously translated to Chinese for a considerable amount of time. The translation service was eventually closed down. By whom? One can only guess.
Yesterday Google/Blogger launched a new service. It offers simultaneous automatic translation to Swedish of the entire blog – not only future blog entries but all old entries since the beginning. This is fantastic!
The translated copy of Blog Skaneland is found here.
In 2005 and 2006 it was simultaneously translated to Chinese for a considerable amount of time. The translation service was eventually closed down. By whom? One can only guess.
Yesterday Google/Blogger launched a new service. It offers simultaneous automatic translation to Swedish of the entire blog – not only future blog entries but all old entries since the beginning. This is fantastic!
The translated copy of Blog Skaneland is found here.
New thinking, please
”We cannot solve today’s problems with the kind of thinking that led to today’s problems.”This is something we may have to bear in mind in the future when politicians are elected (or selected?). And when public administrators are appointed. And when choosing the new political tools necessary to actually solve today’s problems in the Öresund region. The thinking that originally created today’s Öresund-region problems does not appear to have changed much - despite long time membership in the open border European Union.
Albert Einstein
”Vi kan inte lösa dagens problem med det tänkande som ledde fram till dagens problem.”
Albert Einstein
Border shop obstacles
In an interesting editorial in today’s Sydsvenskan, some bothering facts about the Öresund region are being presented.
There are 19000 people commuting every day across the strait of Öresund. The Öresund region is today the fastest growing of all the regions in the Nordic countries. It has 15 percent of the Nordic population. The Region of Öresund is situated in two states governed by two state governments. One capital is diffusely far away and the other has for many years demonstrated that it is quite happy being its own master. The problems for the governed people are, according to Sydsvenskan, numerous and irritating:
Danes living in Malmö (like across the street) do not have the right to vote in Denmark. You buy a bottle of soda on one side of the Öresund and you have to carry it back to where it came from to have it recycled – the system of deposits are different. You may withdraw cash from your credit card for free in “Rome and Helsinki” but a Dane or a Scanian has to pay a hefty surcharge if we do the same on the opposite side of the Öresund.
As a Scanian you pay 5.75 percent every time we use our credit card to buy something in Copenhagen. Many shops only accept the super-Danish-local credit card Dankort which a foreigner can’t apply for. It is cheaper to call by mobile phone from Helsingborg to Kiruna 1800 kilometres away than to Helsingør, which you can see clearly on the other side of the Öresund.
The list of problems and inconveniences goes on. The solution? The Sydsvenskan suggests that the two state governments put their heads together and solve them ASAP. But the state government have, through centuries of state nationalism, created the problems. Is not conceivable that the same entities will have an genuine interest in solving them. Isn’t it like asking the pyromaniac for help to put out the fire?
The time has come for the regional and local governments to do what they are supposed to do – solve the day to day problems of the inhabitants. And state border problems are as important as everything else in the society. After all, we live now in an open and free Europe.
There are 19000 people commuting every day across the strait of Öresund. The Öresund region is today the fastest growing of all the regions in the Nordic countries. It has 15 percent of the Nordic population. The Region of Öresund is situated in two states governed by two state governments. One capital is diffusely far away and the other has for many years demonstrated that it is quite happy being its own master. The problems for the governed people are, according to Sydsvenskan, numerous and irritating:
Danes living in Malmö (like across the street) do not have the right to vote in Denmark. You buy a bottle of soda on one side of the Öresund and you have to carry it back to where it came from to have it recycled – the system of deposits are different. You may withdraw cash from your credit card for free in “Rome and Helsinki” but a Dane or a Scanian has to pay a hefty surcharge if we do the same on the opposite side of the Öresund.
As a Scanian you pay 5.75 percent every time we use our credit card to buy something in Copenhagen. Many shops only accept the super-Danish-local credit card Dankort which a foreigner can’t apply for. It is cheaper to call by mobile phone from Helsingborg to Kiruna 1800 kilometres away than to Helsingør, which you can see clearly on the other side of the Öresund.
The list of problems and inconveniences goes on. The solution? The Sydsvenskan suggests that the two state governments put their heads together and solve them ASAP. But the state government have, through centuries of state nationalism, created the problems. Is not conceivable that the same entities will have an genuine interest in solving them. Isn’t it like asking the pyromaniac for help to put out the fire?
The time has come for the regional and local governments to do what they are supposed to do – solve the day to day problems of the inhabitants. And state border problems are as important as everything else in the society. After all, we live now in an open and free Europe.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Frag or defrag
The provinces are cracking up. The newspapers report that the leadership of the Landsting (abt. County Councils of Health and Medical Services) in the northern province of Västernorrland has decided to regionalise itself when Sweden regionalises, as proposed by the Ansvarskommittén.
The province, if the Landsting get it its way, is splitting up into two parts. The southern part will join the province of Jämtland and the northern part the province of Västerbotten. What the people of the split-up province think is not reported in the papers.
Is this the trend we are going to see more of in time to come? Will the political and administrative elite decide, and not the people, what a regionalised Sweden will look like in the future.
Is this an indication of what will happen also in Scania where the regional government in Skåne and the province of Kronoberg in Småland are considering jumping into the same bed, thereby splitting to ancient regions – Scania and Småland – into pieces?
The former French president Francis Mitterand is said to have said: “If there is one thing the European history has thought us is never to play with borders”. But the leaders in Sweden don’t seem to know that. Could the reason be that Sweden over the years tried to go its own way and avoid real participation in the European History?
Fragmentation of the regions has for centuries been the tactics of the central government in order to exercise control of the parts constituting the state. Isn’t it time to type defrag in the political Run-slot and then press Enter?
The province, if the Landsting get it its way, is splitting up into two parts. The southern part will join the province of Jämtland and the northern part the province of Västerbotten. What the people of the split-up province think is not reported in the papers.
Is this the trend we are going to see more of in time to come? Will the political and administrative elite decide, and not the people, what a regionalised Sweden will look like in the future.
Is this an indication of what will happen also in Scania where the regional government in Skåne and the province of Kronoberg in Småland are considering jumping into the same bed, thereby splitting to ancient regions – Scania and Småland – into pieces?
The former French president Francis Mitterand is said to have said: “If there is one thing the European history has thought us is never to play with borders”. But the leaders in Sweden don’t seem to know that. Could the reason be that Sweden over the years tried to go its own way and avoid real participation in the European History?
Fragmentation of the regions has for centuries been the tactics of the central government in order to exercise control of the parts constituting the state. Isn’t it time to type defrag in the political Run-slot and then press Enter?
08-isis
The Capital of Sweden is going to have a party! On the Eighth of August. That is the day when we write the date 080808 – the Eighth of August 2008. Why this excitement? The phone prefix for calling Stockholm is 08. The people of Stockholm are referred to as Zero-Eighters, even by themselves. Everybody else in the country have three or four digits in their prefixes.
According to the papers, they have booked the largest arena in the city – The Globen – for the party. There will be fire cracker display over the Kungsträdgården after a huge mudbug-eating party. The people of Stockholm have been given the opportunity to choose which artist they want to see on “this classic day”. The babies born that day will be presented with a life-time pass to the Stockholm amusement park Gröna Lund.
Why this fuzz? Is it because they only need to remember two digits in their telephone number prefix while everybody else need to remember three or four? Or because there is a “higher” connection? Like that the Peking Olympics will commence on the same date? Or like the UNESCO selecting the 08-day to announce the seven wonders of nature?
Or is it because the people from Stockholm wants to celebrate that they are smarter that the country bumpkins (“lantisar”) in the rest of the country, which was the expressed opinion of a leading Stockholm politician not too long ago.
And, by the way. Will children in Skåne, born on that day, also get a free pass to Gröna Lund? And, in such case, can it be transferred to a pass for the Tivoli in Copenhagen, which is situated just around the corner from here?
According to the papers, they have booked the largest arena in the city – The Globen – for the party. There will be fire cracker display over the Kungsträdgården after a huge mudbug-eating party. The people of Stockholm have been given the opportunity to choose which artist they want to see on “this classic day”. The babies born that day will be presented with a life-time pass to the Stockholm amusement park Gröna Lund.
Why this fuzz? Is it because they only need to remember two digits in their telephone number prefix while everybody else need to remember three or four? Or because there is a “higher” connection? Like that the Peking Olympics will commence on the same date? Or like the UNESCO selecting the 08-day to announce the seven wonders of nature?
Or is it because the people from Stockholm wants to celebrate that they are smarter that the country bumpkins (“lantisar”) in the rest of the country, which was the expressed opinion of a leading Stockholm politician not too long ago.
And, by the way. Will children in Skåne, born on that day, also get a free pass to Gröna Lund? And, in such case, can it be transferred to a pass for the Tivoli in Copenhagen, which is situated just around the corner from here?
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Fat Toads
Quote 2.
"När den svenska stormaktstiden var över drog svenskarna hem sin skräckadministration till Stockholm. Där sitter den den dag som i dag är, och den är fet som en padda. Fetare än någonsin. Där sitter stormaktspaddan och plågar resterna av väldet. Oss."
"When the Era of the Swedish Great Power was over, the Swedes pulled home its terror administration to Stockholm. There it sits even in this day and age, and it is fat like a toad. Fatter than ever. There it sits, the Great Power Toad, tormenting the remains of the Empire. Us.”The central state system - a consequence of the French Revolution - with its demand for monopoly on the political and administrative decision making processes - has produced many Fat Capital Toads in Europe. Probably none relatively fatter than the one described by the now deceased author - born in Småland and lived in Skåne - Sture Dahlström in his book The Age of the Viper”.
"När den svenska stormaktstiden var över drog svenskarna hem sin skräckadministration till Stockholm. Där sitter den den dag som i dag är, och den är fet som en padda. Fetare än någonsin. Där sitter stormaktspaddan och plågar resterna av väldet. Oss."
Sture Dahlström i Romanen Huggormens tid.
Labels: Politics, Regionalism
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Grass root identity
The Scanian identity is manifesting itself in many ways. The most explicit evidence of this is taking place on the soccer arenas where the Scanian colours are frequently being used by the supporters. But in the Malmö FF supplement soccer match program in today’s Sydsvenskan, they go one step further. The publication’s journalists are analysing the origin of the players of the two teams playing in Malmö on the 10 April.
Two observations:
Firstly the Scanian team (Malmö FF) has a truly multi-national team with players from many corners of the world (only 8 out of 27 have Swedish sounding names).
Secondly the team members’ origins are marked with small flags. The publication is, hardly ever seen before, using Scanian flags to separate between Scanian and Swedish (foreign?) players. Interesting.
Two observations:
Firstly the Scanian team (Malmö FF) has a truly multi-national team with players from many corners of the world (only 8 out of 27 have Swedish sounding names).
Secondly the team members’ origins are marked with small flags. The publication is, hardly ever seen before, using Scanian flags to separate between Scanian and Swedish (foreign?) players. Interesting.
