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More than 3 decades after the collapse of the russian Union, the countries of east Europe and the South Caucasus proceed to face the legacy of authoritarianism and fragile democratic institutions. In this context, civilian society has emerged as a space where citizens negociate power, request accountability, and strive to form their collective futures.
This issue brings together critical reflections on the current state of civilian society and the NGO sector in Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine and Serbia. While each country follows its own political trajectory, the authors item a shared concern: democratic backsliding, repression of civic actors, and dependence on external funding. Yet, they besides uncover stories of resilience, dignity, and transformative civic engagement that proceed to form the democratic aspirations of these societies.
One of the most urgent concerns is the financial vulnerability of civilian society organisations. The fresh cut in USAID support has intensified fears about long-term sustainability and autonomy. However, backing is only 1 facet of a broader struggle. Weak organization frameworks, limited political commitment to democratic norms, and mounting external pressures, peculiarly from authoritarian neighbors, further constrain the ability of civilian society to fulfill its watchdog role.
This reality is most acute in Belarus and Azerbaijan, where civilian society faces near-total suppression. Georgia, erstwhile being a beacon of reform, now shows democratic decline. Moldova’s democratic transition remains precarious. interior governance challenges and external threats – peculiarly from Russia – have placed immense strain on civilian society. In contrast, Ukraine stands out as a testament to civic resilience. The full-scale Russian invasion has not weakened civilian society, but strengthened it. Serbia adds a compelling dimension to this narrative. Despite an entrenched authoritarian regime, student protests have reignited civic resistance, advocating for justice, academic freedom, and government accountability.
Beyond that, this issue closes with a peculiar section dedicated to NATO after this past summer’s summit in The Hague. Our authors item the real safety challenges the region faces and what it will take to overcome them.
Contents
On shaky ground
Resistance, resilience, recovery. Ukraine’s civilian society in wartime Liza Bezvershenko
Georgian civilian society forced into endurance mode
Nino Lezhava
Can Belarusian civilian society last and even pose a threat to the dictatorship?
Zmicier Mickievič
Democracy in Moldova. Can civilian society deliver? Alexandru Fordea
Strengthening the civilian society’s resilience in Serbia
Sofija Popović
Civil society in Armenia. From highest to decline in advocacy Arshaluis Mgdesyan
Silenced by law. How Azerbaijan uses government to crush dissent Zumrud Pashayeva
Essays and analysis
Russia’s long game in Africa and Latin America Alice Volfson
Russian cultural diplomacy in Germany. Between promoting Russia and undermining Ukraine Maria Protsiuk
Italy and Russia. A never-ending love communicative Aleksej Tilman
Europe’s dense cost of dependency Raze Baziani and Mattis Körber
The disfigured spectrum. How post-communist legacies distort conservatism and democracy Tamar Gamkrelidze
Trump’s “Reverse Kissinger” is wishful reasoning Lucinda Ritchie
The EU-US policy divide over Belarus Vitali Matyshau
Interviews
Neither Kaczyński, nor Tusk Who gets the vote of the Polish youth?
An interview with Paweł Marczewski
When values were trampled on, Austria was never neutral An interview with Alexander Schallenberg
Stories and ideas
Low water, advanced stakes in Poland Photo-story by Omar Marques
Hospitality in practice. How does Estonia support Ukrainian refugees? Nino Chanadiri
Russian mall shutdown sparks uproar and confusion James C. Pearce
Art, culture and society
Belarusian folklore as a language of expression during repressions Maria Badzei
History and memory
Gdańsk’s heritage and reconstruction after the war Błażej Kowacz
NATO at the crossroads. After the Hague Summit
Built with uncertainty and worry. NATO in the second Trump presidency Alexander Lanoszka
NATO during the second Trump administration. Actions talk louder than words
Luca Ratti
When European safety meets reality Artur Gruszczak
NATO in times of crisis. Safeguarding the future of the Euro-Atlantic Alliance Wojciech Michnik
Not all quiet on the confederate Flank Michele Testoni
Beyond atomic gradualism. Pathways for NATO to enhance deterrence Alessandro Leonardi
Beyond compromise. Towards the Europeanization of NATO’s east Flank Eoin Micheál McNamara
