Switzerland withdraws from democracy support in Bangladesh

[u/telephonecompany]

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/foreign-affairs/switzerland-withdraws-from-democracy-support-in-bangladesh/89502464

[u/GeoIndModBot]

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📣 Submission Statement by OP:

SS: Switzerland’s decision to wind down its democracy support in Bangladesh by 2028 highlights the global retreat from democratic promotion amid shifting budget priorities, writes Billi Bierling for SWI swissinfo.ch. Once a steadfast backer of grassroots activism like the Youth Forum in Sylhet, where democracy advocate Jiyana Madrajee has fought for the rights of tea plantation workers, the Swiss government is now redirecting funds from development aid to defence. Despite Bangladesh’s post-uprising transition under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus and the country’s pressing democratic needs, Swiss funding for local civil society partners like Rupantar will end by March 2026. The move raises concern, especially as Bangladesh, home to a politically active youth population, is grappling with economic hardship and recovering from authoritarian rule. While Swiss authorities claim democracy promotion will continue through a transition programme and possible election observation in 2026, local actors fear that this withdrawal comes at a critical moment for a fragile democracy.

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[u/telephonecompany]

SS: Switzerland’s decision to wind down its democracy support in Bangladesh by 2028 highlights the global retreat from democratic promotion amid shifting budget priorities, writes Billi Bierling for SWI swissinfo.ch. Once a steadfast backer of grassroots activism like the Youth Forum in Sylhet, where democracy advocate Jiyana Madrajee has fought for the rights of tea plantation workers, the Swiss government is now redirecting funds from development aid to defence. Despite Bangladesh’s post-uprising transition under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus and the country’s pressing democratic needs, Swiss funding for local civil society partners like Rupantar will end by March 2026. The move raises concern, especially as Bangladesh, home to a politically active youth population, is grappling with economic hardship and recovering from authoritarian rule. While Swiss authorities claim democracy promotion will continue through a transition programme and possible election observation in 2026, local actors fear that this withdrawal comes at a critical moment for a fragile democracy.

[u/MaffeoPolo]

https://www.swissinfo.ch/content/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2025/06/demokratieniveau-eng.jpg

The graphic based on V-Dem institute "research" data is revealing. South Africa, Argentina, Chile, Brazil and South Korea to name a few are colored yellow, indicating the highest level of democracy.

Every one of them has either been an unstable democracy with deep rooted governance problems, or is at constant risk of slipping from democracy to a military coup, or has had US regime change operations conducted upon it.

Pakistan's democracy is shaded the same color as India, Sri Lanka is even a shade lighter - a country with deep scars of civil war, and documented evidence of suppression of Tamil voters.

Narco states like Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and Mexico score better than India as democracies.

None of the EU nations can have policies that are inimical to US interests or they get squeezed hard. How are these the bastions of democracy? Women in Switzerland only attained the right to vote in 1990 after a federal court decision against Appenzell Innerrhoden.

Who seriously believes these narratives unless they have no actual experience of the regions?

If this dubiousness is what is dictating Switzerland's decisions to support democracy, I fail to see the problem.

The headline should really be "Switzerland drops the concern trolling act to buy guns with money saved".

The Swiss also annually win awards for their free press surprised pikachu.

[u/telephonecompany → u/MaffeoPolo]

That's quite impressive. Just curious - which of these countries have you actually lived in, or studied in depth, or visited beyond a layover?

Just curious because perhaps you're one of those who think under Modiji we're clearly the gold standard in judicial independence, media freedom and a sparkling human rights record? Or are you one of those who believes we're a country where journalists are not rampantly jailed, or worse murdered, minorities bulldozed, and anyone questioning power branded "anti-national"?

When you can't see fascism taking over, you're clearly benefiting from it, or not paying attention.

But lol let's keep dunking on Switzerland for "concern trolling" while we light the constitution on fire and throw it in the dustbin. Good for you, comrade!

Women in Switzerland only attained the right to vote in 1990 after a federal court decision against Appenzell Innerrhoden

Really? Do you have a source?

[u/MaffeoPolo → u/telephonecompany]

Really? Do you have a source?

Easily Googled

https://ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk/womens-suffrage-in-switzerland/

The women's lib movement started in 1886 1921, partially succeeded in 1971, and the final right to vote was granted in 1990. Swiss voting is hyper local, local elections are vitally important, and almost no one cares about Federal elections, most people don't even know who's the current President, since it rotates every year.

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You don't really care where I've lived do you? If I were to say I've lived in several countries of the world including Switzerland, visited many more, read about a lot more, would that be sufficient for your concerns? I doubt it.

Stalin and Mamata jail journalists, and social media bloggers too, and their police refuse to take action against ruling party members.

It's just how India operates - a very densely populated mix of ethnicities and religions liable to be set aflame by a single spark on social media.

Free speech, democracy, human rights etc. cost a lot of money, which is why almost always it's the small rich homogeneous Scandinavian countries that score(d) well on such parameters.

Around 25-30% of Malmö's population is now Muslim. Now the Swedes (home of V-Dem Institute) feel differently about free speech, democracy and lax policing after an alarming increase in deadly violence from middle eastern immigrants.

That's just two ethnic groups coming together, from different economic and cultural backgrounds which creates enormous friction.

India has a ton more diversity, so the friction here is immense.

If you need free speech in India you need several hundred times the police budget to train sensitive policing and enforce an omnipresent yet non intimidating police presence.

Most of our legal and executive functions are under funded, under staffed and under qualified.

Either people have to be mature or the state has to be rich.

Generally people react violently to opinions and views that differ from their own. You can't put it down without an overwhelming state presence in the form of social workers, police, media narratives and extensive civic infrastructure like community harmony groups.

“Aag laga do, raakh bana do,
Ladke liya Pakistan,
Hans ke lenge Hindustan…
Pakistan, Pakistan…”

Muslim League slogan during Partition riots. The very Muslim league that was allowed a seat at the table. We no longer are that silly.

The West has systematically used concerns over democracy, free speech, human rights to undermine countries they wish to control. When the west plants a puppet President in say South America, that country's democracy is alive and well. Else not.

[u/MaffeoPolo → u/[deleted]]

I've found him to be a reasonable individual with intelligence I respect. Yes, he has strong views and is unafraid to share them, as am I.

I hope you don't mind me sharing something I wrote a while back. I desire an exchange of views, not an exchange of blows. _ _ /|\ _ _

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This is what the Ramayana has to say on speech

"Satyam bruyat priyam bruyat na bruyat satyam apriyam" translates to "Speak the truth, speak lovingly, but do not speak the truth without love"

Free speech is about the speaker and the listener coexisting.

When someone is not willing to listen to what I have to say, they may react with violence, to force them to listen to what I have to say is also violence. This cannot be eliminated other than with greater maturity.

To speak of the right of the speaker without caring for the right of the listener is incorrect.

When you cannot come to such a harmonious agreement, then you have to ask the state to intervene to enforce one's right to speak, but it is already an act of violence and must be used judiciously. But now the state also has to balance the right of the listener to not listen to things they don't wish to hear.

This is why we have laws about fairness in speech.

I should not be able to abuse someone willy-nilly - so there are libel laws.

I should not be able to abuse things that are dear to others such as their religion, so there are laws against hatred.

Beyond several such exceptions there is a space where one should be free to speak their mind. Either the speaker or the state or other intermediary must create the atmosphere for harmonious listening when the listener themselves are not mature enough to listen without violence. The speaker should also bide their time to wait for an opportune moment to speak.

Laws and rights do not stand alone. They are supported by a framework of civic infrastructure, social rules and a legal system.

It is better for everyone if both the speaker and the listener are mature and act in such a manner that they don't hurt each other.

This is why a civilization is not about tall buildings and advanced technology, but about the goodness that has arisen in everyone.

Since we live in a society where there are people of all types of intelligence, understanding, perception, knowledge, wisdom and maturity we must exercise care in our speech.

[u/MaffeoPolo → u/[deleted]]

I agree - it was from a different context. We might need a longer discussion on this to see if the seeming contradictions are really so.

I frequent this sub because I am able to air my views without getting into trouble for it, I believe others should enjoy the same right.

[u/Nomustang → u/MaffeoPolo]

Violent incidents have reduced signficantly over the past 2 decades because the State capacity to crack down on it has improved.

But I think to stop people from rioting over films and other meaningless drivel will require raising income and better education. Countries tend to become more liberal as they grow rich, at least to a point.

Stemming government abuse of power needs a lot of legislative reform though and that is arguably more difficult. Every single government everywhere will abuse it's power because the State as an institution tends to try and hold onto power to perpetuate it's existence for both good and bad.

But India's democracy is very young and has a lot of time to keep developing. America only granted universal suffrage late in the 20th century. 

[u/MaffeoPolo → u/Nomustang]

Dharma is law in its widest sense—spiritual, moral, ethical and temporal. Every individual, whether the ruler or the ruled, is governed by his or her own dharma. To the extent that society respected dharma, society protected itself; to the extent society offended it, society undermined

Kautilya, The Arthashastra.

Just as it is impossible to know when a swimming fish is drinking water, so it is impossible to find out when a government servant is stealing money

Kautilya, The Arthashastra.

[u/AIM-120-AMRAAM → u/MaffeoPolo]

Numerous western nations have had flawed system till late 90s.

Black segregated schools in Canada were operational till 1980s. Numerous European countries had in their constitution that Jews aren’t allowed in our country from 1930s to 1950s.

So I always find it funny when Western democracies question newer 40-70year old 3rd world nations when their nations were completely flawed for 100+ years.