“We do not share the romanticization of destroyed democratic meetings.” – South Sweden

We disagree politically. Some of us came to Studentafton to listen to a prime minister we like, others to ask critical questions. What we have in common is that we do not share the romanticization of destroyed democratic meetings that 50 researchers at our university have expressed (Current issues 22/4).

It only took seconds for the first activist to interrupt Studentafton’s talk in Lund’s city hall with shouting. And so the evening went on. About once a quarter, a new group of activists stood up and filmed themselves shouting about everything from Gaza to the climate, well aware that there would be a question and answer session later where their questions could be answered. The rest of us who were there are also interested in those topics and therefore they were discussed when we got the floor. So it is not the questions, but the method of destroying meetings and silencing others that we turn against.

It was clear that the activists were not interested in a conversation, but rather some kind of theater for mutual admiration and likes on social media.

When the evening’s Student Evening was over, we and several hundred other participants were to pick up our jackets. We were then met by a crowd shouting and banging hard on the building’s windows. Audience members, regardless of party affiliation or views on political issues, were filmed and accused of supporting genocide. A member of the Student Evening Committee, who organized the evening’s event, was spat at. It is this method that researchers at our university thank for and describe as “a hopeful endeavor towards a more profound form of democracy”.

We who were there did not feel the same hopefulness, rather a great discomfort. The desire for a more profound form of democracy was conspicuous by its absence when the democratic meeting was sabotaged.

Many, both audience members and politicians and debaters, have rightly criticized the activists for destroying a non-profit planned student event. The 50 researchers who have spoken out on the issue, on the other hand, describe the objections as “a step in the development towards fascism”. And continues: “The social order that the government wants to create threatens democracy instead of nurturing it.” According to the researchers, some unnamed political philosophers have “warned about this”. So they are not referring to the danger of silencing dissenters or spitting on organizers – but the danger of criticizing the unacceptable behaviour. These are astonishing formulations.

We students have also read theories about democracy, about participation and about freedom of expression. Nowhere does it say that it threatens democracy that the prime minister is available and attends open meetings where anyone is welcome to ask their questions. Nor does it say that criticism of people who destroy others is a step towards fascism. The 50 researchers clearly prioritize dirty political games over academic honesty.

We all should instead be aware of the mutual respect that makes meetings like the Student Evening that Ulf Kristersson attended possible.

The student evenings are excellent examples of when politics gets closer to the citizens. Since Per Albin Hansson’s time in the 1930s and 1940s, all prime ministers have had to meet students in Lund.

The prime ministers have had to explain how they reason, but also answered clever questions and held themselves accountable for their policies. It is unique, both in Sweden and in the world. We students want the democratic tradition of open conversations to live on.

THE WRITERS

Liv Näslundaudience member and political science student

Arvid Modeuspolitical science student and committee member of Studentafton

Elias Nilssonaudience member and economics student

Agardh Brainlistener and student of history

Alexander Fyhn Unander-Scharinaudience member and political science student

Alexandra Szybekaudience member and sociology student

Anna Aronssonlistener and student in European studies

Clara Feikes de Grootaudience member and political science student

Clara Ivarssonaudience member and student in service management

Conrad Tabichaudience member and commercial law student

Day Lorentzonaudience member and logistics student

David Gabrielssonlistener and student of rhetoric

David Henderup Larssonaudience member and student in history and history of religion

Donja Tavakoliniaaudience and student in peace and conflict science

Edmir Mehmetiaudience member and student in history and political science

Elias Frostenssonaudience member and law student

Emilia Pooleaudience member and architecture student

Emmy Nordlundaudience member and medical student

Erik Daunfeldtaudience and PPE student

Erik Tegleraudience member and PhD student in mathematics

Philip Carlssonaudience member and medical student

Philip Lewinskyaudience member and law student

Philip Seimanaudience member and law student

Frieda Lorentzonaudience member and law student

Hannes Wahrolénaudience member and medical student

Henny Nilssonmedical student and committee member of Student Evening

Henrik Bengtssonaudience member and doctoral student in statistics

Isaac Rubinaudience member and political science student

Jenny Larssoneconomics student and committee member of Studentafton

Jens Petterssonaudience member and political science student

Johan Stigenbergaudience member and law student

Jonas Murraylistener and student in German

Kristoffer Lindstriiaudience member and political science student

Lenart Bletaaudience member and law student

Lynn Rydbergaudience member and student in technical mathematics

Lucas Röingaudience member and political science student

Marcus Rydbergaudience member and economics student

Marcus Stolzlistener and statistics student

Martha Hesslowaudience member and law student

Niklas Heleneforsaudience and PPE student

Oliver Novakaudience member and economics student

Oscar Falklaw student and committee member of Studentafton

Sarah Lightningaudience member and student in mechanical engineering

Simon Linderstudent in theoretical physics and committee member of Studentafton

Teodor Simrénaudience member and political science student

Theodore Coppenaudience member and law student

Truls Karlbergaudience member and economics student

Victor Borischaudience member and political science student

Victoria Brorssonaudience and student in peace and conflict science

Vidar Grevåkeraudience member and law student

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