Civil society

Neonationalism in postcommunist countries

Source

Nationalism is understood as a kind of latent destructive stream, as something given that has not previously had opportunity to manifest itself in post-communist countries. It is considered as one of the enemies of civil society. In the countries of the former totalitarian and later authoritarian regime of the Soviet Union, it is a reaction to a forced integration and centralism practiced in the name of “socialist internationalism”. The main idea of the 1989 revolutions was to return the former socialist countries to the natural political development of the rest of European nations, in which civil society were naturally present. However, strong nationalistic emphasis is often acting against the civil society, which is considered an enemy of the nation and its nationhood, often considered as foreign agents (even local civil society organisations and initiatives). This development is clearly visible in Russia, for example, but also in other countries.

Notice: Neonationalism as a revival of nationalism after the fall of communism is not equivalent to neonazism.