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With Ukraine War, Europe’s Democratic Project Takes on New Urgency With Ukraine War, Europe’s Democratic Project Takes on New Urgency
(6 days later)
This article is from a special report on the Athens Democracy Forum, which concluded last week in the Greek capital.This article is from a special report on the Athens Democracy Forum, which concluded last week in the Greek capital.
The seven-month-long war in Ukraine has tested the unity and resolve of the European Union’s 27 members, but it has also given them a striking example of how important and powerful the democratic idea can be.The seven-month-long war in Ukraine has tested the unity and resolve of the European Union’s 27 members, but it has also given them a striking example of how important and powerful the democratic idea can be.
That was a conclusion of two sessions at the Athens Democracy Forum, which focused separately on Poland and on Russia-China but directly and indirectly addressed the new sense of urgency over democratic values that has gripped Europe since President Vladimir V. Putin’s Ukraine invasion.That was a conclusion of two sessions at the Athens Democracy Forum, which focused separately on Poland and on Russia-China but directly and indirectly addressed the new sense of urgency over democratic values that has gripped Europe since President Vladimir V. Putin’s Ukraine invasion.
“It seems the Ukrainians are the only nation capable and ready to defend E.U. values with their own lives,” said Karolina Wigura, a lecturer at Warsaw University during the panel “A Decade of Democracy: Poland.”“It seems the Ukrainians are the only nation capable and ready to defend E.U. values with their own lives,” said Karolina Wigura, a lecturer at Warsaw University during the panel “A Decade of Democracy: Poland.”
“And yet they are not a member, so it is a paradox,” she added.“And yet they are not a member, so it is a paradox,” she added.
Within the European Union, Eastern countries, which had lived through decades of Soviet occupation, have looked at the war and Moscow’s ambitions from a different perspective than their Western neighbors, whose post-World War II experience had been peaceful and prosperous.Within the European Union, Eastern countries, which had lived through decades of Soviet occupation, have looked at the war and Moscow’s ambitions from a different perspective than their Western neighbors, whose post-World War II experience had been peaceful and prosperous.
“This war is a moment in history which will either put us more together or divide us,” said Vera Jourová, vice president of the European Commission for Values and Transparency. “I call it the ‘big meeting,’ because suddenly the West has started listening to the East.”“This war is a moment in history which will either put us more together or divide us,” said Vera Jourová, vice president of the European Commission for Values and Transparency. “I call it the ‘big meeting,’ because suddenly the West has started listening to the East.”
On the “A Decade of Democracy: China and Russia” panel, Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, said it was a mistake to see the war as a “struggle between autocracies and democracies.” Each country has a different narrative that has its own merit, he said. “If we’d sit down and speak to each other, we would get different perspectives.”On the “A Decade of Democracy: China and Russia” panel, Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, said it was a mistake to see the war as a “struggle between autocracies and democracies.” Each country has a different narrative that has its own merit, he said. “If we’d sit down and speak to each other, we would get different perspectives.”
Poland, once a leading example of liberal democratic reforms in Eastern Europe after the collapse of Communism, has seen its democratic transformation slowed over the last decade by a conservative government’s attempts to take control of the judiciary and to muzzle the independent media. Ms. Wigura said Ukraine’s commitment to its democratic freedoms was now a source of inspiration for the rest of Europe.Poland, once a leading example of liberal democratic reforms in Eastern Europe after the collapse of Communism, has seen its democratic transformation slowed over the last decade by a conservative government’s attempts to take control of the judiciary and to muzzle the independent media. Ms. Wigura said Ukraine’s commitment to its democratic freedoms was now a source of inspiration for the rest of Europe.
“Ukraine poses such a wonderful source of hope,” she said. “Poland used to be such a source of hope. So what happened? How did we prove to be such a disappointment?”“Ukraine poses such a wonderful source of hope,” she said. “Poland used to be such a source of hope. So what happened? How did we prove to be such a disappointment?”
Ms. Wigura, a sociologist, historian and journalist, suggested that Poland had traveled a long way to build “a new house of democracy and rule of law,” but that house is not yet built.Ms. Wigura, a sociologist, historian and journalist, suggested that Poland had traveled a long way to build “a new house of democracy and rule of law,” but that house is not yet built.
“Let’s say our democracy is full of flaws,” she said. “The rule of law has been privatized by the executive.” At the same time, many Poles, as well as the European Court of Justice, have pushed back. “Polish polarization proves to be one of the forces that is defending democracy,” Ms. Wigura said.“Let’s say our democracy is full of flaws,” she said. “The rule of law has been privatized by the executive.” At the same time, many Poles, as well as the European Court of Justice, have pushed back. “Polish polarization proves to be one of the forces that is defending democracy,” Ms. Wigura said.
The Polish government’s disputed notion of the rule of law and other democratic norms will be tested in elections next year, she said. In the meantime, Ms. Wigura suggested, the war in Ukraine could impact Poland in another way: The influx of several million Ukrainian refugees could have an influence on policies.The Polish government’s disputed notion of the rule of law and other democratic norms will be tested in elections next year, she said. In the meantime, Ms. Wigura suggested, the war in Ukraine could impact Poland in another way: The influx of several million Ukrainian refugees could have an influence on policies.
“I don’t argue that the government will be liberal democratic overnight, but to some extent, they will have to think how to integrate these people, live with these people,” she said.“I don’t argue that the government will be liberal democratic overnight, but to some extent, they will have to think how to integrate these people, live with these people,” she said.
As for Russia and China, participants at that Democracy Forum panel cautioned against “wishful thinking” about any democratic developments in those authoritarian states, given each country’s political culture and history.As for Russia and China, participants at that Democracy Forum panel cautioned against “wishful thinking” about any democratic developments in those authoritarian states, given each country’s political culture and history.
Yet Su Yun Woo, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Zurich Institute of Political Science, argued that while China is not democratic, “there are pockets of democratic development which make local officials more responsive.”Yet Su Yun Woo, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Zurich Institute of Political Science, argued that while China is not democratic, “there are pockets of democratic development which make local officials more responsive.”
The Chinese Communist Party is principally concerned about control, but it does also care about good governance, she said, “which is why participatory practices are allowed.” Nevertheless, she cautioned, they are managed by the party and “at any time, the party can pull back.”The Chinese Communist Party is principally concerned about control, but it does also care about good governance, she said, “which is why participatory practices are allowed.” Nevertheless, she cautioned, they are managed by the party and “at any time, the party can pull back.”
Jaroslaw Kuisz, editor in chief of Kultura Liberalna, a centrist-liberal media organization in Poland, said that history explains the “nervous sovereignty” of countries on the edge of big empires — for instance, Taiwan, which lives under the threat of mainland China, as well as Poland, Finland and the Baltic states, which have suffered under Russian and Soviet rule.Jaroslaw Kuisz, editor in chief of Kultura Liberalna, a centrist-liberal media organization in Poland, said that history explains the “nervous sovereignty” of countries on the edge of big empires — for instance, Taiwan, which lives under the threat of mainland China, as well as Poland, Finland and the Baltic states, which have suffered under Russian and Soviet rule.
These experiences of Russian aggression are the prism through which these countries view the war in Ukraine. “What is happening is not an event, a war, but a link in a chain of events,” Mr. Kuisz said. “So we take different actions, and expect different outcomes.”These experiences of Russian aggression are the prism through which these countries view the war in Ukraine. “What is happening is not an event, a war, but a link in a chain of events,” Mr. Kuisz said. “So we take different actions, and expect different outcomes.”
The difference in perspective between Western and Eastern Europe became apparent in their diplomatic approaches to the war.The difference in perspective between Western and Eastern Europe became apparent in their diplomatic approaches to the war.
In the early days, when Russian forces were threatening Kyiv, French and German leaders were on the phone to the Kremlin, while Eastern European leaders went to the Ukrainian capital in person to show solidarity. As long as these countries “see the war as part of process, not as an event, they do not expect any temporary truce,” said Mr. Kuisz.In the early days, when Russian forces were threatening Kyiv, French and German leaders were on the phone to the Kremlin, while Eastern European leaders went to the Ukrainian capital in person to show solidarity. As long as these countries “see the war as part of process, not as an event, they do not expect any temporary truce,” said Mr. Kuisz.
Mr. Sachs noted that democracy is not necessarily the right prism to judge a country.Mr. Sachs noted that democracy is not necessarily the right prism to judge a country.
“We treat democracy as the good,” he said. “Yet the most violent country in the world in the 19th century was perhaps the most democratic, and that was Britain. You can be democratic at home and ruthlessly imperial abroad. The most violent country in the world since the 1950s has been the United States.”“We treat democracy as the good,” he said. “Yet the most violent country in the world in the 19th century was perhaps the most democratic, and that was Britain. You can be democratic at home and ruthlessly imperial abroad. The most violent country in the world since the 1950s has been the United States.”
He said the enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization into Eastern Europe and the Baltic countries had been a “provocation” that led to the war in Ukraine. Mr. Kuisz challenged that point of view, reminding Mr. Sachs of his role as an architect of Poland’s liberal economic reforms of the 1990s.He said the enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization into Eastern Europe and the Baltic countries had been a “provocation” that led to the war in Ukraine. Mr. Kuisz challenged that point of view, reminding Mr. Sachs of his role as an architect of Poland’s liberal economic reforms of the 1990s.
“In 1989 and after, you promoted liberty, democracy and values which eventually could get us out of this horrible sphere of influence,” he said, referring to Soviet control of Eastern Europe after World War II. “You stood for human rights and to get us out of the trap of history.”“In 1989 and after, you promoted liberty, democracy and values which eventually could get us out of this horrible sphere of influence,” he said, referring to Soviet control of Eastern Europe after World War II. “You stood for human rights and to get us out of the trap of history.”
“If we blame the West for this war, it is to take away responsibility, a whole or a part, from Vladimir Putin,” he said. “It is he who took the decision to start a war in February.”“If we blame the West for this war, it is to take away responsibility, a whole or a part, from Vladimir Putin,” he said. “It is he who took the decision to start a war in February.”
Dr. Su noted that as the war drags on, “Chinese public opinion has started to turn from Russia, and the media has toned down” its coverage. “China has an interest to sit on the fence,” she said. Dr. Woo noted that as the war drags on, “Chinese public opinion has started to turn from Russia, and the media has toned down” its coverage. “China has an interest to sit on the fence,” she said.