After the fall of the communist regimes, the political atmosphere in Central Europe was full of enthusiasm. Today, 30 years later, a part of society is experiencing disillusionment and is looking for new visions. The dream model of liberal development that Central European intellectuals and political leaders hoped for in the 1990s has gradually been rejected by broad groups of the population. Its legitimacy is being undermined even in Western Europe itself. In Poland, in this “post-liberal” world, nationalism and Catholic conservatism are thriving, and the fight against elites is also a major issue. Karlowicz calls them “functional aristocracy” and sees them as the greatest threat to democracy. According to him, in order to avoid bloody revolutions, the political system must be reset.
This episode was originally released on June 17, 2020.
People excluded from the system are rioting across Europe
The Polish culture wars were covered by the Daily news podcast, among others, in a five-part series called Battle for Europe. The series followed the rise of nationalism in several European countries ahead of last year's European Parliament elections.
This episode was created with the support of the Polish Institute in Prague.
