Ivan Krastev, a Bulgarian political scientist and co-author of "The Light That Failed," joins acclaimed historian Timothy Garton Ash to discuss the precarious state of democracy in Eastern Europe. They reflect on the rapid political changes since the fall of the Berlin Wall, sharing personal anecdotes and analyzing the resurgence of authoritarianism. The talk delves into the impact of youth emigration, the complexities of public expectations amid rising populism, and the challenges posed by global political dynamics, highlighting a turbulent future for democratic ideals.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Where were you when the Berlin Wall fell? (Timothy Garton Ash)
Timothy Garton Ash was in Oxford when the Berlin Wall fell and flew to Berlin the next day.
He had lived in East Berlin and frequently crossed Checkpoint Charlie, finding joy in the act.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Where were you when the Berlin Wall fell? (Ivan Krastev)
Ivan Krastev was in Sofia, a last-year philosophy student, when the wall fell.
The next day, Bulgarian communist leader Todor Živkov resigned, overshadowing the Berlin Wall's fall locally.
insights INSIGHT
The "End of History" Thesis
Francis Fukuyama's "end of history" thesis posited that liberal democracy had triumphed ideologically.
He argued that while historical events would continue, no competing grand ideology would emerge.
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In this book, Ivan Krastev and Stephen Holmes argue that the supposed end of communism marked the beginning of an age of autocracy. They contend that the drive for democracy in Eastern Europe after 1989 led to a bitter repudiation of liberalism due to the painful process of 'copycat Westernization.' This mimicry of Western institutions and values, especially after the Soviet era, resulted in a deep-seated resentment and a political backlash against liberalism. The authors also examine how this phenomenon is linked to the rise of populist and nationalist movements in both Eastern Europe and the United States, including the Trump presidency. They discuss the roles of Russia, China, and other global actors in this context and argue that Western defenders of liberal democracy need to offer a more realistic vision of world order[2][3][5].
The Magic Lantern
An Autobiography
Ingmar Bergman
The Magic Lantern is a non-linear autobiography that explores Ingmar Bergman's life through vivid vignettes, covering his rural Swedish upbringing, his work in theater and film, and his tumultuous personal life. The book offers a unique insight into Bergman's creative process and personal reflections, making it as personal and penetrating as his films.
In November 1989, 30 years ago this month, the collapse of the Berlin Wall ushered in a new era of democracy in Eastern Europe. But today, with populist strongmen like Orban in Hungary and Kaczyński in Poland on the rise, the future of democracy in the region looks uncertain. In this episode we were joined by Ivan Krastev, the Bulgarian political scientist and co-author of The Light That Failed and Oxford University's Timothy Garton Ash, who wrote The Magic Lantern, a book about the 1989 revolutions in Eastern Europe which came out thirty years ago this year. The conversation was moderated by Brian Klaas, the political scientist, Washington Post columnist and author of The Despot's Apprentice.
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