The Therapeutic Use of the Putsch

Belgrade, Bratislava, or indeed any European city where democracy is perceived to be under threat, consistently attracts crowds—mostly comprising young, dissatisfied citizens. Despite the distinctiveness of each nation, these demonstrations share common characteristics. Striking slogans such as ”We refuse to drag our country eastward,” or calls for decency in politics, dominate the discourse. However emotion-laden these slogans may seem, they frequently conceal an intellectual emptiness, appealing more to the imagination than offering substance.

Take, for instance, the slogan "”We don't want Slovakia dragged East.”" What exactly does this imply? For many from the former Eastern Bloc, such slogans instinctively evoke fears of a communist resurgence. But today's Russia is no longer a communist country. In recent Russian parliamentary elections, the Communist Party secured just 13.1% of the vote. Although it remains the strongest opposition to President Putin, it is far from reinstating communism in Russia, let alone exporting it to Eastern Europe.Though Russia undoubtedly remains imperialist, one must question whether it truly understands itself. Defining Russia’s intentions then becomes a complicated matter.

Similar ambiguity surrounds the demand for “decency,” essentially a hollow catchphrase. Decency represents a style rather than a moral compass—it can quietly cloak dishonesty and theft. It is a vague moral assumption devoid of clear normative boundaries, yet it can forge a societal framework dividing the ”decent” from the ”indecent.” This simplistic dichotomy easily morphs into a division between good and evil. Yet, in our postmodern world, traditional categories of good and evil have largely lost their coherence. 

However, it is insufficient merely to highlight the emptiness of these slogans,while  the demonstrations in which they are chanted possess genuine strength, rooted in real frustration.

Worse Off Than Our Parents

The economic realities facing people under forty are undeniably grim. Gone are the prosperous days of the early 2000s, when Europe's GDP growth reached around 3.9%. Since the 2008 crisis, Europe has experienced years of sluggish growth, exacerbated by recent inflation. Europe's cumulative inflation rate between 2021 and 2024 reached approximately 22.4%. In countries affected by protests, such as Slovakia and Serbia, inflation rates were even higher—31.8% in Slovakia and 36.4% in Serbia.

The cost of daily life has soared, but this is merely the tip of the iceberg. Young Europeans, even in economically robust countries like the Netherlands, struggle to afford housing. Europe's House Price Index has surged since 2015, barely slowed by rising interest rates, which merely dampened the upward trend. With the European Central Bank relaxing its monetary policy, low mortgage rates could exacerbate the crisis. In Central Europe's major cities, a three-room family apartment is increasingly out of reach, even for above-average earners. Moreover, rising public debt, which future generations must repay, represents nothing less than postponed taxation. This gloomy outlook fuels unrest, though frustration over economic hardships doesn't automatically translate into concerns over democratic quality.

The Only Remedy 

Recognising one's limitations is the only genuine remedy for frustration. Demonstrators hope political decency will alleviate theirs, yet history suggests otherwise.

Consider the Czech Republic under former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (2017–2021), frequently labeled a populist despite his centrist pragmatism. Inspired by Donald Trump’s pragmatic approach, Babiš sparked major protests, notably the 250,000-strong Prague demonstration in June 2019, the largest since 1989. Protestors demanded a “more decent” prime minister. What they got was Petr Fiala, a strongly pro-European leader. Yet, Fiala’s tenure saw housing become even less affordable. Current polls indicate Fiala would likely lose to Babiš in an upcoming election. Fiala’s government conflated criticism with Russian influence; corruption persisted, it merely wore a different mask.

Crowd Therapy: Real Change Lost in Fog

Protests act as therapy, and do not offer solutions—politicians, in the role of therapists, merely prolong sessions on the proverbial couch. The core issue lies in contemporary European regimes' incapacity for radical reform. Figures like Trump and Musk recognise this craving for change, yet the problem predates them. Communist Czechoslovakia, facing a housing shortage due to population growth, completed nearly 100,000 apartments—admittedly, these were drab prefabricated units—in 1975. In stark contrast, the Czech Republic completed just 38,067 units in 2023. 

Protests championing ”decency” or opposing ”Eastern influence” may get the blood flowing but offer no real solution to spiraling housing costs, the shrinking middle class, and looming debts. The real challenge is not replacing inept regimes with more ‘decent’ ones but facing the harsh truth: economic insecurity stems not from democracy itself but from democracy’s failure to adapt to contemporary realities. While communist leaders built drab housing units, today's politicians merely pile up promises. Without meaningful change, the next generation risks inheriting both their parents’ debts and their disillusionment. The question now is: will Europe find genuine solutions, or continue settling for mere crowd therapy?

Statement

Why are young Europeans flooding the streets of cities like Belgrade and Bratislava? Slogans about decency and the fight against the 'East' sound appealing, but what is truly at their root? Behind the empty slogans smoulders a real frustration with unaffordable housing, the disappearing middle class and debts accrued by previous generations. The protests are merely therapy for the masses—a kind of pressure-release valve—rather than a catalyst for genuine change.