Emergence of a new iron curtain in Europe is a grim prospect

Slawomir Sierakowski observes the rise in ‘illiberal’ democracy, namely in Central and Eastern Europe and advocates integration to stave off future crises and protect liberal norms

POLAND has now emerged as the latest European battleground in a contest between two models of democracy — liberal and illiberal.

The overwhelming election victory in October of Jaroslaw Kaczy´nski’s far-right Law and Justice party (PiS) has led to something more akin to regime change than to a routine turnover of democratically elected governments.