Slovakia: A Beacon of Democracy in Visegrad
The Slovak people have elected their first female president: Zuzana Čaputová, a 45-year-old lawyer, activist and divorced mother of two daughters with staunchly liberal leanings. By voting her into office, the smallest Visegrad country has decided to swim against the current of right-wing populism in Europe, giving hope to supporters of liberal democracy in the […]
Arpád Soltész
21st February a year later
The whole story how the newsroom and Slovak society has changed since the day of the murder of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak
Millions for Uniforms
For almost 10 years, the Polish ministry of defense has been trying to attract non-governmental organizations to help promote ‘patriotic and pro-defense attitudes’. With the PiS government, golden days have come for pro-defense organizations. Money, privileges and even exercises with American soldiers.
T-shirts made in Poland.
Not in the European Union
The first stores selling patriotic clothing in Poland opened doors nearly 10 years ago. Today, everyone is wearing it: from the Polish president Andrzej Duda to school children, and to parents and their kids at patriotic marches. The aim is to show strong attachment to patriotism and flaunt it around: you simply either are a patriot, or you are not.
Uniform for a Patriot
School celebrations, patriotic marches and national holidays. All accompanied by ever-present weapons and green uniforms. In countries of the Central Europe patriotism increasingly means militarism, and civil values are being displaced by the cult of weapons and combat. Nobody controls this movement. VSquare special report shows, that states are supporting amateur militarists on an unprecedented […]
Pro-defense organizations want real guns
Lobbyists and paramilitary organizations in Poland are struggling for a wider access to arms and ammunition. Pro-defense organizations and shooting associations had tried to push through their own version of the law in Polish parliament.
Czech military marketing starts in schools
The ministry monitors two most significant militia groups in Czech Republic – Czechoslovak Armed Reserves for Peace and National Militia. But the situation in Czech Republic differs from what’s happening in the region.
Hungary: a smooth way to better patriotism
High school military programs are spreading in Hungary where the government’s educational policy aims at making students more patriotic. Patriotic education is about to be extended into all schools.
Anita Komuves