Will democracy survive in Europe by 2030? Will the European youth live in democracy or will dictatorships arise?

The economic crisis has given rise to both a political and institutional crisis which might seriously endanger European democratic values. A report by the British think tank Demos states that there may be a regression in democratic quality. This deterioration affects mainly welfare state and human rights.

The “Europe of citizens” designed after World War II has now become a “Europe of the markets”. The current Europe opts for the defence of neoliberal economic policies and for the support of financial institutions before defending individuals and their rights.

The austerity imposed in the countries hardest hit by the crisis preys on those sectors that should be red lined for any country that is named democratic: education and health.

Moreover, the lack of transparency in governments leads to corruption and the citizen’s voice is increasingly ignored. Even freedom of speech and the right to demonstrate are being criminalized.

At the same time, unacceptable dishonest behaviour pervades our Parliaments in a subtle way. Corruption and the lack of transparency extend throughout sound democratic countries. Berlusconi has not hesitated to put Italy’s economic stability at risk to avoid legal prosecution. In Spain the former treasurer of the government party stalemates the president. To make things worse, the economy divides the EU into classes, with Germany at the top and southern countries at the bottom as third-class nations and derisively referred to as “Pigs”. These unfair and deeply rooted distinctions undermine the democratic principle of equality that the European Union set as its main pillar since its foundation.

However, of all the evils that undermine democracy, it is social inequality caused by the economic crisis which causes it to falter, as it encourages populism and corruption. This situation favours the rise of extreme right and left movements and the resurgence of fascist parties, which use the hatred of ethnic minorities as a political weapon.

In the 1930s Nazism made anti-Semitism its purpose. At the present time, racism and xenophobia again target Jews in Hungary, immigrants in Greece and gypsies in France (Muslims in Sarkozy`s time). Some leaders use it as an electoral weapon, exacerbating fears and hatred. Right wing parties give xenophobic speeches which are sometimes violent and insidiously are becoming part of European parliaments. We can find clear examples in the Hungarian Jobbik party, the Greek Golden Dawn (now declared illegal) and the Austrian ultra FPO. All of them have become the third political force in their countries. This alarming trend is even seen in countries such as Finland, Norway, Switzerland and the UK, which have sound democratic traditions.

Are we going back to bleak times? Did not that happen in Germany some years ago? Is history repeating itself yet again?

I wish that psychohistory in Asimov’s Foundation saga became a reality. Thus, the main character, Hari Seldon, would predict what Europe would become in 2030. But since we do not have this tool, we have to take the reins.

Notably, we, the youth must decide whether we want to recover the ideals and values that were the seeds of the EU: equality, peace and social welfare. First and second class citizens are not what Europe was meant for. We should not take democracy for granted. Imperfect as it is, it is still a treasure we have to defend firmly.

We have the power to curb democratic deterioration to ensure that future generations come of age in a Europe with the principles and values so many generations have fought for. Now it is our turn as young Europeans to speak for the Europe we want.