Right-wing demonstrators at a Independence Day rally in 2012. PAimages/Alik Keplicz. All rights reserved.Poland is in the news again, but not necessarily for any good reasons. A country that not so long ago was labeled the success story of the post-communist transition is now making headlines as the latest example of an illiberal turn in Europe, one in which the 'state of democracy' is under real threat. There are several causes for this development, but one has received scant attention so far: the role of youth.
This is remarkable since young voters were a crucial group bringing about Poland's 'swing to the right' in last year's elections. As a result, there is no left or even centre-left political party represented in parliament.
Youth are also strikingly absent from the mass grassroots protest movement that has emerged in opposition to the current government of the conservative and populist Law and Justice party though this does not necessarily translate into support for the government.
