Tom Gallagher on the lack of visions among Romania's youth

With an eye to the protests in Greece British political scientist Tom Gallagher identifies in Romania Libera a lack of visions among Romania's youth. "It is highly unlikely that students in today's Romania who are unhappy about their lacking prospects for the future would ever decide to stage protests in front of the houses of well-known businessmen who, thanks to their political ties, have become billionaires overnight. Or in front of the villas of politicians who have been acquitted by judges or are being protected by their parliamentary colleagues despite grave accusations and even substantial evidence against them. Young Romanians lack the prospects, the dreams that are typical of people their age, even concrete projects in which they could participate. In other words they lack on the one hand the destructive impulse that politically motivated violence generates, and on the other the concept of joint struggle, a struggle that finds its expression in actions directed against the permanent irregularities that ultimately destroy not only their own futures but also the development of society as a whole. ... It remains to be seen whether in future this country's youth will take an interest in the public life of the nation and in improving the current political system which has fallen into profound discredit. Without their intervention in politics I would dare to claim that the system will continue to deteriorate."

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