Archive for January 18th, 2012
For the dwindling number of people old enough to have experienced it and for students of history, a familiar pattern is re-emerging. When economic distress persists and intensifies, growing numbers of the discontented are attracted to populism and nationalism. It happened in the 1930s and it’s happening now.
As in the early 1930s, these dystopian beliefs are most pronounced in Eastern Europe. After taking note of a profound historical parallel, this shouldn’t be surprising.
When the Great Depression began, the countries of Eastern Europe had existed as sovereign entities for less than 15 years. Provisions in the Treaty of Versailles established them as independent states. Previously, they had been part of the Austro-Hungarian empire.
Now fast-forward some 70 years to 1989. In that year, as in 1919, Eastern Europe escaped the clutches of an empire: this time, the Soviet empire. Once again, less than 15 years after becoming sovereign entities, these countries have fallen victim to severe economic distress.
Democratic roots take far longer than 15 years to achieve maturity. Thus, as I’ve already said, it’s anything but surprising that Eastern Europe is where the twin ideological evils have flowered first.
This post was inspired by a Spiegel Online article titled “Eastern Europe Swings Right.”