Authoritarianism

"We see neo-Nazism rising in a number of European countries. Our sacred duty to the people who gave their lives in the fight against Hitler's Germany, which is more than 30 million people, is to prevent the second wave of the brown plague.

According to the 2021 Democracy Index, our country ranks 53rd in terms of a democratic society, 10 points ahead of Serbia and 20 points ahead of North Macedonia.

As Western Balkan and EU leaders meet in Slovenia to discuss the stalled European integration process, experts told BIRN how the frustrations caused by the stalemate could jeopardise essential reforms, exacerbate authoritarian tendencies and endanger regional security.

“Macron, no to the health dictatorship”, some were shouting

The countries of Central and Southeast Europe are continuing to witness declines in democracy, media and election freedom, and respect for human rights, according to the latest Freedom House Nations in Transit report, published on Wednesday.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a press conference, March 18 2020. Photo: EPA-EFE/STR

It says human rights activists, dissidents and their families face a pattern of violence and intimidation perpetrated by the same authoritarian regimes they hoped to avoid by fleeing abroad, referring to this phenomenon as "transnational repression".

Policing. The use of the word alone makes understanding difficult.

Ever since hsi election in 2016 Donald Trump showed signs of an undemocratic stance and behaviour.

A host of actions and choices of the US president showed that he disputed democratic mores and sought to effect changes that would facilitate authoritarian and unchecked governance.

To understand Jansa's war with the media, it is important to recognise that his political capital rests on the ideological basis of nationalism, which substantiates national sovereignty by the principle of ethnicity.

A man looks at Slovenian newspapers. Photo: EPA/IGOR KUPLJENIK

The Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) presents today two studies for 2020 - on public attitudes towards democracy, democratic transition and on the way Bulgarian MEPs vote.