VMRO-DPMNE Party Undermined Macedonia’s Democracy by Creating a Totalitarian System
A decade-long rule by VMRO-DPMNE in Macedonia has led to the erosion of democracy and the establishment of a totalitarian system of government. The party’s coalition partner, DUI, served as a mere figurehead, lacking the capacity to oppose power.
The Crisis in Europe
The political climate under Gruevski’s leadership was reminiscent of Hannah Arendt’s analysis of the crisis in Europe, where she described a system of parties and parliamentary government as corrupt and oligarchic. This environment fostered a “mentality of the crowd,” where certain groups were sacrificed.
Devastating Consequences
The consequences of this criminological structure were devastating for the population, particularly the Albanian community. House raids, terrorism against children with automatic weapons, beating and imprisonment of individuals, and forced involvement in crimes for party benefit were all part of a broader strategy to maintain power.
Totalitarian Propaganda
According to Hannah Arendt, totalitarian propaganda thrives on escaping reality. The governance system under Gruevski’s leadership was characterized by cynicism or malicious plotting, which led to the manipulation of public opinion through sensationalist demagoguery.
Consequences
- Declining birth rate
- Exodus of young people to the West
- Institutional shortages pose a significant risk to the country in the coming years
Legacy of Crime and Decay
This decade-long tenure has left Macedonia with a tremendous legacy of crime, economic instability, and institutional decay that may take decades to eradicate. The VMRO-DPMNE party’s rule has been marked by corruption, nepotism, and disregard for human rights, which has undermined the very foundations of democracy in the country.
Sources
- Deutsche Welle article (12/11/2008)
- Transparency Macedonia article (“Skopje 2014” project) (25/06/2018)
- Daily news article (vertetmates.mk)
- Garland, D. (2005). Penal Excess and Surplus Meaning Public Torture Lynchings in 20th Century America.
- Kambovski, V. (2009). Eкономски криминал во стечајот и во стечајната постапка.
- Klitgaard, Robert (1988). “Controlling Corruption”.
- Lidèn, G. (2014). Theories of dictatorships: Sub-Types and explanation.
- Ljubica Bakić-T., et al. (2013). Ph.D. thesis.
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