Europe’s populists in power in Poland, Hungary, and Slovenia see being migrant-friendly supporters of Ukraine as an excellent opportunity to clean their image, but the proof will be in how they defend democracy at home, writes Sam van der Staak.
Sam van der Staak is a policy expert on democratic developments in Europe. He heads the Europe Programme at the Stockholm-based think tank the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA)
The European Union’s strong support for Ukraine against Russia, from economic sanctions to shipments of missiles and an open-door policy towards war refugees, has signalled hopes of a democratic rebound in a troubled continent.
President Vladimir Putin, the argument goes, has galvanised once-complacent EU nations to stand up for democratic ideals.
“During these trying times, our Europe is demonstrating remarkable unity,” French President Emmanuel Macron told his nation in March. “Now Europe must agree to pay the price of peace, freedom and democracy …. The war in Ukraine marks a turning point for our continent.”
Any democratic renaissance is indeed welcome.
Democracy has been in the doldrums for years, and creeping authoritarian tactics have become more common.
Data from the Stockholm-based think tank International IDEA shows that in many of Europe’s erstwhile communist countries, civil liberties and checks on government are now comparable with when they joined the EU.
In Hungary and Poland, democratic backsliding has intensified for years, while Slovenia joined them in 2020. These declines have created a deep and dangerous cleavage in the EU’s internal fundamental consensus on liberal democratic values.
So, the EU sanctions against Russia and the sigh ..
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