POSC 268 Populism in Central Europe
Populism has seen an upsurge in many parts of the world, including in several European countries. In central Europe, the phenomenon is related to what countries have gone through since World War II. In some, four decades of communism made their mark on their political culture and also left the countries poorer than their West European neighbors. Establishing market economies and joining the European Union have brought more prosperity to many in the region, and joining NATO has brought a political equality with older democracies, at least on paper. But they remain less wealthy than their western allies, and the legacy of their communist past still complicates their politics today. Populism is also growing in relatively affluent countries, such as Austria.