Figure 4
Increase in Life Expectancy at the Time of Birth (19892004)
Czech Republic
Hungary
Poland
Slovakia
76
75
74
73
72
71
70
69
Source: "World Development Indicators Online," World Bank, June 25, 2006, http://publications.worldbank.org/WDI.
The Rise of Populists and
the exception of Poland, military expenditure
the Weakness of Liberals
as a percentage of GDP declined throughout
the region.20
Despite post-communist advances, many
The populists in Central Europe have
people in Central Europe continue to be
tapped into that feeling of dissatisfaction.
unhappy with the progress that the region has
The Slovaks, for example, have elected Robert
made so far. In 2005, a poll conducted by the
Fico, a self-declared socialist who fumes
European Foundation for the Improvement of
against multinational corporations and
Living and Working Conditions found that 58
financial interests, and promises a variety of
percent of Slovaks, 40 percent of Hungarians,
taxes and regulations to bring them to heel.
38 percent of Poles, and 34 percent of Czechs
After his election win, Fico formed a coalition
felt pessimistic about their lives.21 That is a
government with the disgraced former prime
minister Vladimir Meciar and Jan Slota's
damning statistic, though it should be noted
Despite post-
Slovak Nationalists, who adhere to socialism
that Europeans in general tend to be more pes-
mixed with racism and xenophobia. The
simistic than, for example, Americans. As a
communist
words and actions of the members of the
Harris Poll found in July 2005, "Fully 58 per-
advances, many
Slovak triumvirate speak for themselves.
cent of Americans are very satisfied with their
people in Central
Meciar stands accused of ordering the mur-
lives compared to the 15-country European
der of a journalist and the kidnapping of a
average of 31 percent. Fifty-six percent of
Europe continue
son of a former president. Yet Meciar cannot
Americans think that their lives have improved
to be unhappy
be prosecuted because the above crimes are
in the last five years compared to 45 percent of
with the progress
subject to an amnesty granted by, of all peo-
Europeans. Furthermore, 65 percent of Ameri-
ple, Meciar himself in 1998. Slota, a racist
cans expect their personal situation will im-
that the region
xenophobe, has raged against "mongoloid"
prove in the next five years compared to only
has made so far.
44 percent of Europeans."22
Hungarians and "hideous" Gypsies. He has
5