Crisis of Democracy in the CEE

On the 25th of October 2022, the Euroatlantic Center held the first part of the e-learning focused on democratic issues in countries of V4. This e-learning was a part of this year’s project Visegrad Youth Forum 2022.

The discourse started with an opening statement from both speakers that were to explain better the challenges of democracy. Speakers were Oľga Gyárfášová and Jan Hornát. To our attention was brought the fact that democracy is on backslide and forces are working against it. Forces such as the rise of populism, people less trusting democratic institutions, and the growing assertiveness of Russia and China. Another reason for the backslide of democracy is the crisis of liberalism. Liberalism gave people the ability to free themselves from the shackles of society but now people are scared of this freedom, they feel isolated and alone. That creates space for illiberal forces to take place and to show people what is good and what is not. To turn away from liberalism does not mean we should also turn away from democracy.

The second part of the e-learning focused on the question: How would you describe the transformation process of V4 into a democracy? It was explained that the transformation process is long and probably still is not at the end. It is easy to create a democratic constitution and democratic institutions, but for people to feel like real democrats it takes several generations. For Slovakia, this transformation was a difficult process. The transformation was based on nationalistic ideas and liberal values were not embedded into the society and still are not as strong as they should be. People see human rights as something that we have to split with others and lose part of it when we do it. One more issue that is still relevant in V4 countries is the question: of how strong the state should be. People in these countries want the state to care for them when they need help, which is different from how people see it for example in the US. Where civil organizations make up for this part, being part of a church can give you access to better healthcare or daycare for your children. So the state in the US gives people a lot more freedom and does not interfere, instead, we have civil organizations that supplement this. 

On the other hand in V4 we have to decide if we want a stronger state that will interfere and help people but will give less freedom to people or if we want a weaker state that will give people more freedom.

To what extent could civil society in CEE, or even in Western Europe, take over some of the functions of the welfare state the way it seems to in the US? Is the difference due to the strength of civil society in the US, or is it more the difference in national cultures ?

Ever since the foundation of the US, they have had clubs and civil organizations, and people talk to each other, but now this trend is dying and that is where the polarization comes in, people do not meet and do not discuss. Philanthropy and donating to civil society are much stronger in the US. It helps with taxes, if you donate you do not pay that much in tax. Civil society in the US is not seen as leeches that drain the budget. Civil organizations have a better image in the US than those in V4, they still do a great job but do not have as much recognition

What role does the media play in strengthening democracy? Can we consider the role of the media as crucial in drawing attention to the increasingly populist practices of politics in the region?

Media plays a very crucial role, not only classic media but also social media is on the rise nowadays. But the standard media is still important because they have private owners with their interests. To conclude, virtual lives are more and more spilling into our real lives.

What is the future of V4? Will this trend of backsliding democracy continue?

This is just a phase of democratic consolidation, this phase will lead to perhaps how we perceive liberal ideas. People are still democrats in V4, even populists do not want the return of dictators they still want to keep their freedoms. It is a phase that will be talked about, and we are democrats. Democracy may be reframed but it will not go away. We still have democratic institutions and processes, and all this is the process of maturing society into a democracy