The series of crises that have been unfolding since 2008 has significantly altered Europe’s post-war image. Originally envisioned as a bastion of prosperity and security in a globalizing world, Europe faced immense challenges following the trauma of the first half of the 20th century. For the past ten years, the continent’s aspiration to attain human dignity, freedom, and equality within a democratic and lawful society has been increasingly challenged by the complexities of the contemporary world.
Recently, there has been a growing security crisis in Western countries. Safety is typically described as a state that instills a sense of confidence, ensures its continuity, and presents possibilities for personal growth. Any disruptions in the realm of safety directly impact fundamental human necessities 1. In Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, safety is positioned right after physiological needs, which underscores its fundamental importance for healthy human development. By consistently meeting safety needs, one attains stability in life. This stability serves as a foundation for progress in both individual and societal domains2.
On a personal level, safety is characterized by the lack of threat of losing something highly valued by an individual, such as their health, job, esteem, feelings, or material assets 3 .
This is noticeable within the scope of security, both internal and external. The decline in the sense of security has a substantial effect on Europe aiming to serve as a standard in addressing social, political, economic, or religious challenges. In the 1990s and early 2000s, Europe emerged as an area of prosperity and heightened social justice. The formation of the European Union in 1993, as a result of the Maastricht Treaty, represented the pinnacle of prevailing socio-political ideologies. Since 2004, the expansion of the Union to the east has been a symbol of the proliferation of the
Western model of liberal democracy, which was envisioned to stretch from Washington and Berlin to Moscow, formerly a bastion of communism and often seen as a ‘heart of darkness.’ The European Union expanded its membership before the former Soviet satellite states received American security protection, as embodied by NATO.
Poland, positioned at the heart of the historical upheaval during the turn of the century, embarked upon the 21st century carrying a three-century-long security deficit. Throughout the past centuries, Warsaw has consistently prioritized the critical objective of safeguarding its external security. This imperative arose due to persistent threats posed by its neighboring states, which exhibited possessive tendencies. The geographical positioning of the country, which predominantly lies within the expanse of the North European Plain, has significantly influenced its historical trajectory. This region has been witness to countless conflicts and the intricate interplay of diverse ethnic communities. Traditionally, Central Europe was a maze of interwoven nations and religious beliefs, as accurately represented by the territories of the historical First and Second Polish Republics, where a variety of cultures intersected within a unified structure. Yet the cataclysm of World War II, along with the subsequent Yalta arrangement, reshaped Europe and the world, leaving Poland as an entity with a homogeneous national structure. In the post-war era, the People’s Republic of Poland effortlessly blended into the European landscape, predominantly made up of nation-states. Meanwhile, countries such as Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia were teetering on the edge of internal disintegration, a process that ultimately occurred in the 1990s with the disbandment of the Soviet Union.
In the second half of the 20th century, the Iron Curtain’s presence across Europe put a pause on
1. Słownik terminów z zakresu bezpieczeństwa narodowego, ed. Julian Kaczmarek, Wojciech Łepkowski, Bogdan Zdrodowski, Warsaw 2008, p. 15., http://web.archive.org/web/20181211124349/https://mkuliczkowski.pl/static/pdf/slownik.pdfa
2. Poston Bob, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, p. 350, https://www.ast.org/pdf/308.pdf
3. Słownik terminów …, op. cit., p .15.
social transformations in Central Europe. This led to a societal crisis in the continent’s western region, the climax of which is being witnessed now. Upon examining the “Key Challenges of our Time: The EU in 2022” report, compiled by the European Commission, it is evident that Europeans regard defense and security as the most pressing challenge for the EU. This concern is shared by 34 percent of the EU population. The second most significant concern, as per the report, was enhancing the EU’s energy autonomy, a sentiment echoed by 26 percent of the EU population. The economic situation in the EU followed closely, with 24 percent of the respondents expressing this concern. Interestingly, climate threats, which are viewed as the most critical political objective to address by EU institutions, only ranked fourth on the list of matters 4 . The report, which was published in 2022, demonstrates the profound repercussions of the all-out Russian invasion of Ukraine. Certainly, it is crucial to acknowledge that focusing exclusively on the EU’s external security fails to offer a complete perspective on the issue of internal security. This facet, frequently neglected in public discourse, is manifested in the inward feelings of the population.
As the intensity of emotions linked to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian intrusion into Ukraine somewhat faded, topics related to migration, economic affairs, and internal security gained prominence. The increasing focus of the public on migration issues can be substantiated by the rising backing for political parties that stand against large-scale and unregulated migration. The AFD in Germany and the National Rally (Rassemblement national ) in France are both witnessing an increase in public backing. In the first three months of 2024, the AfD was
said to have 20 percent voter support across the country 5. Earlier in 2024, the National Rally secured a vote share of 28 percent in France, thereby emerging as the frontrunner in the parliamentary elections 6. In Italy, non-establishment parties have already won control of the state’s parliament. Conversely, in the Netherlands, the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy, also known as the Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (VVD), led by Mark Rutte, garnered the most votes in the 2021 parliamentary elections.
The 2020s saw a rise in strikes and a deepening of social unrest in the foremost European economies. The European Trade Union Institute’s data analysis reveals that between 2020 and 2022, strikes led to an average of 163.8, 79.1, and 17.8 unworked days per 1,000 employees in Belgium, France, and Germany respectively 7. Contrastingly, during the same period, Central European states did not witness significant work stoppages. The same statistic stood at 8.4 for Hungary and a mere 0.4 for Poland. In 2023, violence erupted in France and Belgium over the fatal shooting of Nahel M., a French teenager of North African descent. Over the past year in Germany, there has been a noticeable economic decline coupled with a surge in social unrest. This was primarily driven by strikes initiated by Deutsche Bahn and farmers, who joined forces with the railway workers as the year came to a close. Moreover, the rise in migration has had a profound impact on Sweden’s social landscape, contributing to a notable uptick in criminal activity and sexual assault incidents. In addition to the usual issues that developed economies confront, the United Kingdom is yet another state to experience increased social turmoil. This situation is further complicated by a profound economic crisis stemming from the aftermath of Brexit.
4. Key Challenges of our Times – The EU in 2022, Special Eurobarometer 526, file:///C:/Users/simon/Downloads/Key_Challenges_The_EU_ in_2022_ebs526_Report_EN.pdf
5. DAWUM - Darstellung und Auswertung von Wahlumfragen, https://dawum.de/
6. Vandaele Kurt, Strike map of Europe, European Trade Union Institute, https://www.etui.org/strikes-map/
7. Yanatma Servet, Margaux Racanière, Mouvements sociaux : dans quels pays fait-on le plus souvent grève en Europe ?, euronews, January 19, 2023, https://fr.euronews.com/next/2023/01/19/mouvement-sociaux-quels-pays-font-le-plus-souvent-greve-en-europe
Despite the widespread sense of security in the European Union and no real threat of an external invasion, there is an uptick in anxiety, coupled with social fears and phobias. The European Council has indicated that depression and anxiety were the dominant mental health disorders in the EU prior to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Data from the European Council indicates that there are 25 million people in the European Union dealing with anxiety disorders, which makes up 5.4 percent of the total EU population. According to the World Health Organization, the pandemic has led to a worldwide deterioration in mental health. A survey by Eurobarometer in June 2023 revealed that nearly half of the EU population (46 percent) has dealt with issues like depression or anxiety in the past year 8 .
While the issue of declining mental health is prevalent across the entire Union, the causes may differ based on whether it is the Western or Eastern part of the continent. Whether an individual develops depression or any other mental disorder depends on a set of biological, psychological, and social factors. Lately, the worsening of mental health, notably in the youth, has been strongly associated with the swift changes in various aspects of social existence.
In Western Europe, there is a noticeable trend towards the progressive ‘archipelagization’ of public space. Elites with a global perspective, natives confined to their land, and immigrants from outside Europe, all coexist within the same national territory. This matter is accurately depicted by Jérôme Fourquet in his book “L’Archipel français. Naissance d’une nation multiple et divisée”, where he likens modern France to an archipelago filled with numerous clashing interests. In the book, the author highlights the slow fading of traditional France due to the influence of emerging France. This process is set to create a ripple effect, much like an “archi-
pelago”, across the whole society. It leads to the detachment of the upper class, the diminishing status of the labor class, the relegation of Christianity to a minority role, the creation of a multicultural society in practice, and the shift in shared cultural norms, as evidenced by the remarkable variety in names, for instance 9 .
The splintering of Western society has a considerable influence, notably on young men. As they seek their own significance and power, they tend to gravitate towards one of four stances: nihilism, hedonism, fanaticism, or heroism. The gradual breakdown of societal norms that encourage heroic behaviors results in a rise in the other three life perspectives, with fanaticism, particularly among young men of non-European descent, being the most perilous. Their societal standing is aptly illustrated by an African proverb stating that a child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth. In contemporary Western Europe, this idea is just as relevant to young immigrants who find solace in Islam as it is to young Europeans who are falling into a state of indifference and nihilism. This element profoundly influences internal security as it involves public institutions that are obliged to dedicate substantial resources to mitigate internal risks.
In the face of intensifying societal disputes, Western elites are unable to ignore the underlying reality that is subconsciously perceived within the societal fabric. This condition endures, notwithstanding the systemic failure to pinpoint the issue, which invariably amplifies tensions and discord. In light of these circumstances, the region of Central Europe, particularly Poland, emerges as a notable exception. Even though Poland’s soft power in Europe is not strong, ranking only 33rd in the 2023 Global Soft Power Index, the country is progressively improving as a place to live and it demonstrates a high
8. Mental health, European Council, https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/mental-health/
9. Fourquet Jérôme, L’Archipel français. Naissance d’une nation multiple et divisée, (ed.) Points 2020
capacity to withstand crises 10 . Furthermore, one of Poland’s primary strengths is its robust internal security. The aforementioned historical inadequacies in Poland’s external security precipitated a strengthening of its internal cohesion. The emergence of the Catholic Church, a consequence of the partitions, was further fortified during the papacy of John Paul II. This bestowed upon the Polish nation a distinctive characteristic within the European context.
neration, which greatly influenced society during the initial transformation phase, prevented liberalism from reaching the prevalent status it usually holds in Western societies.
Western countries interpret the heightened political activity in Poland as a sign that Polish democracy is still maturing. Given the escalating socio-political divide in the West, it is clear that the frequent and intense political disputes in Poland could resurface with greater force due to years of unresolved issues––once ignited in the West. Ever since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, concurrent crises have been escalating in the West, with their roots traceable to the financial meltdown of 2008. Traditionally, periods of crisis have led to social unification, but none of these processes are apparent in Western Europe. In Poland, however, there emerge organic solidarity movements that possess the potential to consolidate the population around a mutual objective. The most recent manifestation of the
Upon analyzing Polish society, it is evident that its unique national character, which distinguishes it from other European societies and has its roots in the period preceding the political liberal revolution, has been conserved due to significant historical phenomena, most notably the Cold War. The political transformations that transpired during the 1990s and early 2000s ensured that Poland was not excluded from the surge of liberalism. In the country, the swift progression of events and the ideological beliefs of the “John Paul II” ge10. Global Soft Power Index 2023, Brand Finance, https://brandirectory.com/softpower/
Polish social movement for solidarity can be seen in how the people of Poland have reacted to the conflict in Ukraine.
In conclusion, the discussed analysis predominantly revolves around the socio-political facet. This is a topic that has been neglected in the ongoing public dialogues centered on managing immediate crises. Often, the mainstream narrative overlooks the broader perspective that sketches the ongoing mega-crisis, which seemingly began with the 2008 financial crisis. In the years ahead, the survival of societies will hinge on their capacity to tackle current risks, as demonstrated by a holistic focus on both external and internal security. Sadly, the western part of the continent, despite numerous warnings, has shifted away from spearheading security initiatives as it placed excessive reliance on the American defense shield. Certainly, in this situation, the main threat should not be seen as originating from outside, but rather from inside.
Technological advancements drive significant personal changes in the younger generation, as we can see from our surroundings. These alterations will introduce a new kind of risk. Historical precedents for responses to emerging threats may
be hard to come by, as the digital realm is a novel phenomenon that we are still grappling with. This will eventually result in a situation where well-established societies, capable of integrating individuals into specific social standards, can shield them from mental discomfort caused by the swift pace of change. Such an approach can be seen as a societal safeguard against mental health crises. It not only exposes the individual to hardships but also provides support in dealing with personal issues that impact both the individual and society at large.
Poland is committed to ensuring individual safety as part of its domestic security measures. This strategy has been forward-thinking since the country’s transformation, yet it continues to uphold a deep-rooted connection to its traditions and religious beliefs. When we consider the current trends in technology, society, ideology, and religion, it appears that no immediate changes are expected. However, it is inevitable that everything will have to adapt and evolve eventually.
