Richard Wagner on bogeymen in Eastern Europe

Romanian-German author Richard Wagner examines the rise of populism in the countries of Central Eastern Europe: "A key factor in the recent success of populism is the manipulation of terms. Populists portray themselves as anti-communist and anti-capitalist at the same time. This is the case with Viktor Orban, Hungary's national conservative opposition leader who at the beginning of his political career had liberal leanings, and it's also the case with the Kaczynski brothers in Poland. Their party calls itself the 'Law and Justice Party'. Both parties portray their countries as being under siege. What was once under threat from Soviet imperialism now seems in danger of succumbing to the pressure of globalisation. Old and new bogeymen are experiencing a boom." Wagner calls for "a stronger cooperation between civil forces, transcending the borders between East and West," to counteract this phenomenon.

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