New Eastern Europe Magazine

This issue of New Eastern Europe examines whether democracy can withstand its current challenges. We explore this question from multiple perspectives and consider trends emerging from our region that may now be influencing other democratic nations.
Despite such factors as globalization and digitalization, which many believed would spread democracy and openness, we see in many countries, including Russia, Belarus, how autocrats have learned to adapt to the 21st century reality. Far right and other extreme forces look to these autocrats and aim to replicate some of the tools and techniques employed by more established autocrats. Certain methods, for example a law on “foreign agents”, have even starting making their way to countries inside the European Union. On top of this many of our societies are faced with extreme polarization and social nihilism which makes many wonder if democracy is already a thing of the past. Even voting trends among younger people raises cause for concern.
Admittedly, there is no single solution to reverse these trends, but understanding the symptoms is the first step toward addressing the underlying issues. Democracy activist, Samuel Chu, speaks on how democracy is more than just voting in elections. It requires the desire to want to make a change and then seeking the agency and ability to influence such a change.
Finally, we should not forget those who are literally fighting on the battlefield to preserve their own democracy. It goes without saying, should this battle be lost, the consequences for our own democracy’s survival would be severe.