I’m concerned too. But as you say, it takes time to shift mentalities. We had become accustomed to the fact that the US protected us for so long. Now, we suddenly realize that we are all alone. It’s bitter.
In my opinion, a giant is slowly wakening up, less thanks to Putin, and more due to Trump. But I agree with you that the rhythm of that awakening, and the sheer time needed to get up on our collective feet, is too slow to save Ukraine.
I also agree that it is dangerous for world peace to wake up that peculiar giant.
One thing I do know, the “Strong Men” mentioned above, that may soon be necessary to have in power and make cynical decisions, will not focus on global poverty, will not focus on Climate Change that do not directly affect us. It will be brutal Zero Sum, to stave off threat more vivid and tangible than Climate Change.
It would have been nice if such “men” (can of course be women, just an expression) would not become necessary; because it carries a sociopolitical and socioeconomical future risk too (1800 and 1900 wasn’t really the best time).
Bad news for the EU: the nationalist Nawrocki, a Trump admirer and ‘Poland first’ candidate, has won the knife-edge presidential election in Poland (50,89% of voices).
Even though Tusk remains the main man in Poland, that is a heavy hit for all who were hoping that the EU, and especially the Eastern part of it, could move a bit more away from far-right nationalism.
Im surprised at that result. I thought Poland out of all Eastern European countries would remember the dangers of the far right and giving them even the slightest sniff od gaining power
To be fair, the previous president was from the same party, so on the surface, nothing changes much. But the problem is that this one is a genuine Trump admirer, and will no doubt follow his footsteps in trying to erode all democratic institutions in Poland. But Poland, just like all Eastern European countries, aren’t the US: their democracy is still very young and fragile. Let’s hope that the majority of people there will recognize what they now have, and don’t sacrifice it because of the scare those far-right politicians try to instil into them (scare of strangers, scare about what the future holds etc.).
No, the Hard Right has been extremely popular in Poland for decades. Before the outbreak of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Poland was Orban’s closest allies through the Law and Justice Party. They only differ when it comes to Russia. The war as such, has helped bring Poland closer to western Europe politically. But before the war, news items in Europe was about the rise of authoritarianism in Poland, the clamp down on Polish courts etc., not Hungary which was seen as less important).And if you have followed the war, you know that polish farmers have routinely blocked (also today, I can find a picture) grain imports from Ukraine as well as regular supply and that they have strong support.
But they hate Russia more (most of them).
But really, the difference between Duda and Nawrocky is not so big. Both are pro Trump, the latter more cowboy perhaps. But same revanchist shit, though I expect Poland to become even more vocal regarding Germany and Ukraine and the “unresolved historical issues” (as they say) now.
I worked for a company that employed about 70% of it’s staff from Eastern Europe, the majority from Poland.
Without wanting to generalise, they were as racist as they come. Made it quite clear that what was going on at the time with Eastern Europeans flocking to GB to work wouldn’t be tolerated in Poland. “We’d fight you in the streets” one of them told me. They were quite happy to express views that British people wouldn’t because they’d be labelled a bigot etc.
There is nothing to be surprised about at all.