The Future Challenges question of the month asks what citizens can expect from their governments in the future. In all honesty, I think they can only expect as much as they demand. My proposition, and a lesson I’ve learnt from living in Eastern Europe, Western Europe and the United States, […]

“Yugonostalgia.” It’s an expression that suggests many things at once. Generally, it refers to a feeling of longing for “the good old days” felt by citizens of those countries which comprise the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. A recent survey shows that among all the former Yugoslav republics, Bosnia-Herzegovina […]

Sometimes the relationship between the state and its citizens can be very complicated. But it’s even more so when it’s not clear who should be a citizen and on what grounds – just like in Hungary now. When talking about state and nationality in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), you […]

The beauty of childhood is its lack of expectations Photo credit: Powerhouse Museum Collection Every year, on the 25th of December, everybody in Romania celebrates Christmas. But some Romanians also use the occasion to commemorate the former communist president, Nicoale Ceaușescu. They gather at the Ghencea Cemetry and in front […]

This part of the world has a long history of living in very rough social conditions. Their wealth of experience with rough conditions makes people here much more resilient in facing the so-called “crisis” the world is going through nowadays. Let me share my story and show you where people […]