Machiavelli in the Balkans

"There is no undertaking that is more difficult to undertake, nor whose happy outcome should be more doubtful, nor more dangerous to carry out than the introduction of new laws." Everyone who supports the old laws stands up against the innovator, and weak support is given by those who would benefit from the new laws."

These sentences belong to Niccolò Machiavelli. Former Yugoslavia it's not 15th and 16th century Italy, but the similarities are there. Let's say, bloodied states, dominance of foreign powers, all-powerful dukes, internal divisions, oligarchical government... Where does this introduction lead? Right to the new governments of Serbia, Croatia and Macedonia.

Vučić's cabinet belongs to the toughest selection of Vučić so far. With a few changes in the transition period, 'ladno could play in the late nineties under the patronage of Milošević, Šešelj and Mira Marković.

On the other hand, the Croatian representative Andrej Plenković in a member of the European Union forms a coalition with the chauvinist Homeland Movement and, instead of holding repeated elections, expels the Serbs from the government.

In Macedonia, VMRO returned in hurricane style - a party whose government, with pressure from abroad, fell on the streets due to a whole series of inactions.

All these three governments combine the clientelism and partiocratic system of government of the dominant parties: SNS in Belgrade, HDZ in Zagreb and, soon, VMRO in Skopje. And one more thing - they are the biggest beneficiaries of their opponents' assets.

In Serbia, it is a return to the international community, the country's European path and, in general, its normalization under the "previous authorities". As for Croatia, the de-Germanization initiated by the Social Democratic Party allowed it to enter the European Union. Finally, thanks to the "formers", Macedonia solved the decade-long problem with Greece, joined NATO and thus received permanent protection of its territorial integrity.

Every government corrupts, including the predecessors of the listed right-wing populist parties. However, voters sooner or later punished them for broken promises and abuses.

But, despite the incomparably greater looting of the people, systemic corruption, cheating or making institutions meaningless, the right-wingers show themselves to be more and more vital, as the majority electorate constantly asks them for everything. What is their secret?

For one thing - they know by heart Machiavelli's advice on how, at any cost -
by nails and teeth - holds power. Only that is primary to them, everything else is secondary. Cynicism is understood, lying is taken into account, trampling on democracy is promoted.

And two - right-wingers constantly hold citizens as hostages in the atavistic cellars of nationalism and chauvinism. That kind of selling the fog under the label of community, feeling threatened, self-importance and specialness doesn't drink water only in the Balkans, but it has record returns here.

And since this text started with Machiavelli, it is time to end with him. Local elections await Serbia. Anyone who can benefit from the changes should support those they could start with. And much stronger than before.