And yet, this moment carries a paradox. The possibility of change has returned, but so too has a clearer understanding of how much has already changed. The Hungary approaching this election is not the Hungary that brought Orbán to power in 2010, nor the Hungary that joined the European Union with confidence in its democratic […]
The Serbian public, exhausted by crises both genuine and staged, has been subjected to years of narratives about success and a golden age. The hero of the economic tiger fairy tale needs enemies, both domestic and foreign, in order to play the role of the caring and effective leader. Domestic propaganda is not necessarily focused […]
Governments that are openly distancing themselves from the EU, leaning toward Russia, or doing so less openly while employing Russian propaganda tactics – this is exactly what we are witnessing on the political scene in Georgia, Slovakia, and Serbia. Mass protests by dissatisfied citizens on one side, and politicians in power who seem to be […]
Electoral manipulations. A society divided between the West and Russia. People rooting for a strong leader because “only a firm hand can lead us out of the crisis.” The rule of spin. Institutions and politicians gaslighting citizens and spreading misinformation. All of that is the current picture of spinocracy in Serbia. These multifaceted manipulations sometimes […]
Leaders in other countries have adopted techniques of spin dictatorship, manipulating the media behind the scenes, taking over the courts, and marginalizing the opposition — all while maintaining a democratic facade. Spin dictatorship is an attractive model of governance for leaders who want to consolidate their power as authoritarian rulers while keeping a modern economy […]
