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Central Europe Matters

Central Europe Matters

Welcome to a brand-new, narrative podcast about society, politics and democracy in the heart of Europe. Meet local activists, experts, journalists, artists and others struggling to make sense of what's happening in their countries and of the turbulent times we live in. Between democratic backsliding, far-right populism, the ongoing legacy of 20th century experiments in totalitarianism, and a strategically vital location on the doorstep of Russia and Ukraine, Central Europe is ground zero for the battle over the future of Europe.
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Host Jeff Lugowe draws on his academic study of the region at Brown and Harvard and his knowledge of Polish and Czech as he takes listeners on a journey around the big cities and forgotten corners of Central Europe.

Season 1: Slovakia — Democracy under Attack launched August 12th. New episodes every Wednesday.

Central Europe Matters is an independent, DIY narrative podcast hosted and started by Jeff and produced by Dávid Pál. It is generously supported by the EEA Civil Society Fund Slovakia.

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  • 4 episodes
  • Avg 35 min
  • English

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  • August 26 · 52 min

    E3: Do Slovaks like being ruled by a strongman?

    Many Slovaks thought they had gotten authoritarian strongmen leaders out of their system when Prime Minister Vladimír Mečiar lost his reelection bid in 1998. Almost twenty years later, the current Slovak government is led by former Communist Robert Fico, whose coalition government attacks independent media, starves independent culture of financing, and in televised rants and social media tirades accuses political opponents and Slovaks who didn't vote for him of progressive fascism and ideological terrorism. ​ ⠀ To understand what Fico's brand of take-no-prisoner politics means for Slovakia and its people, I spoke to a political scientist, an author/journalist and two women living in a small town. ​ ⠀ We start our journey around Slovakia in the passenger's seat of Diana's car, somewhere between Revúca and Spišská Nová Ves in Central Slovakia. You met Diana in episode 1; now she's back due to popular demand. We then move to Košice in the country's southeast, before making the long drive (when is that cross-country highway getting built?) to the capital, Bratislava. Finally, we jump back into the car with Diana and Emma, one of the students Diana mentors. Episode breakdown: ⠀ Intro segment: With politicians like this, what could possibly go wrong? with Diana Jacková Segment 1: Slovak stagnation and the ruse of social democracy, with political scientist Lukáš Jakabovič Segment 2: Progress and development? Not on Robert Fico's watch, with author, columnist and translator Samo Marec Outro segment: Double standards in politics, with Diana and Emma ⠀ Episode soundtrack: Močí ďïovča konope (featuring Ženy z Muzičky) by Folk&Bass Orchestra, a Slovak ensemble that combine folk sounds with electronic and jazz elements. ⠀ As always, you can reach me with questions, comments or just to say "ahoj" by emailing jeff@centraleuropematters.eu. ⠀ This episode was produced by Dávid Pál, and hosted and executive produced by me, Jeff Lugowe.

  • August 19 · 43 min

    E2: The country that cried itself into independence

    What happens when you wake up one day and find yourself living in a different country? In this week's episode, we move from the fall of communism in 1989 to the emergence of an independent Slovak state in 1993. For most of this episode, I spoke to people living in Bratislava, the dynamic and at times architecturally puzzling Slovak capital, before returning to Banská Bystrica in central Slovakia for my final conversation. I also made a brief stop in Košice in eastern Slovakia. The thread running through this episode is: what prevents some people in Slovakia from identifying with their own state? Episode breakdown: Intro segment: The country that cried itself into independence, with democracy activist Ľuboš Žárský Segment 1: The complex nature of Slovak national feeling and identification with the state, with sociologist Miloslav Bahna Segment 2: The deep rift within the Slovak elite, then and now, with sociologist Dominik Želinský Interlude segment: The limits of solidarity, with professor of social work Katarína Šiňanská Segment 3: The country that was founded on a façade, with civil society activist and veteran Peter Medveď Episode soundtrack: TRESTY by Samotay, one of my favorite Slovak indie artists As always, you can reach me with questions, comments or just to say "ahoj" by emailing jeff@centraleuropematters.eu. This episode was produced by Dávid Pál, and hosted and executive produced by me, Jeff Lugowe. You can click on the names of the cities I visited for today's episode if you want to pair your listening experience with a visual trip around Slovakia. Visit the Central Europe Matters website for even more photos, a preview of the rest the season, or if you're curious about who I am and why I started this podcast.

  • August 12 · 45 min

    E1: The old system collapsed, but is it really gone?

    This episode marks our first trip to Slovakia and the start of season 1, Slovakia – Democracy under attack. Buckle up – it's going to be a wild ride. Follow me, host Jeff Lugowe, as I speak with activists, researchers, artists and concerned citizens about the battle currently underway in Slovakia over the country's democratic future. ⠀ We begin in Banská Bystrica in central Slovakia to meet Sandra and Lea, two activists with the organization Not in our Town (Nie v nasom meste). ⠀ Then we move a few hours northwest to the city of Žilina. There, I sat down with three high school students who gained national prominence last winter for their Student Protest initiative (Študentský protest). ⠀ Finally, I drove the winding roads back to Central Slovakia and Revúca, a town of 11,000 people set amid a canopy of forested hills. Diana invited me to her apartment, where we talked about being a community activist in a small, isolated town. ⠀ This journey around Slovakia is just getting started. Subscribe to Central Europe Matters if you haven't already – episode 2 will be out next Wednesday. ⠀ Episode soundtrack: Dufekova Cifra by Folk&Bass Orchestra ⠀ Check out the official show website, where you can read more about the podcast and what motivated me to embark on this project in the first place: https://www.centraleuropematters.eu/ ⠀ You can see photos of the places we visited during this episode by clicking on the names of the cities above. ⠀ Email me with any questions or to tell me what you think of the first episode: jeff@centraleuropematters.eu ⠀ This episode was produced, mix and mastered by Dávid Pál. It was hosted and executive produced by me, Jeff Lugowe.

  • August 7 · 2 min

    Season 1 Trailer: Slovakia — Democracy under Attack

    Season 1 will take listeners on a trip around Slovakia — a small, mountainous country on the eastern periphery of the European Union — currently in the throes of a democratic crisis. Join host Jeff Lugowe as he meets people living in the big cities and deep in the countryside and hears how they are fighting for their democracy. Slovakia — Democracy under Attack launches in August 2026. Subscribe today to get the first episode in your podcast feed. Central Europe Matters is an new, independent narrative podcast. Read more about the podcast and the upcoming season by visiting: https://www.centraleuropematters.eu/ Trailer soundtrack: Smutné kvety by Samotay

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