Analysis
Politics
Hungary at a Crossroads: Economic Turmoil, Internal Dissent and the Rise of Péter Magyar – QUICK TAKE
2 October 2024
Belarus is facing a difficult choice. Gradual changes are needed in all areas for the country to take shape and continue to live on. First of all, the country needs freedom of action in the civilian space to strengthen civic consciousness and the stability of society.
What role does fear play in the current state of affairs in Belarus? What should be done to enable society to overcome fear and to rebuild a country’s sovereignty and agency?
Fear and degradation of the state
On the one hand, fear in a non-democratic state is one of the ways to maintain power and preserve a situation. On the other hand, it serves as the main brake for the development of the state itself. The fewer spaces there are for free initiatives, the less chance of finding successful solutions. Freezing a country’s situation always leads to lag in terms of political, economic and social development. The fear factor brings about the degradation of state and public institutions, elites, political forces and experts.