The remains of a communist-era death camp can be found in the dense forests of the idyllic Danube island of Persin, where the endangered sea eagle and pygmy cormorant reside. From 1949-59, hundreds of "enemies of the regime" died in Bulgaria's Belene concentration camp due to beatings, malnutrition, and exhaustion, with dead bodies being fed to pigs. Despite being largely forgotten twenty years after the fall of communism, only a small marble plaque tells the camp's horrific story. Nostalgia for the past is growing in Bulgaria and the former Soviet bloc as capitalism's shortcomings in improving living standards, enforcing the rule of law, and reducing corruption and nepotism have led to fond memories of a time when unemployment was low, food was affordable, and social safety was high. Rumen Petkov, a former guard turned clerk at the only functioning prison on Persin island, mentioned that the negative aspects have been forgotten. He noted that nostalgia is strong among the elderly, especially in front of the deteriorating buildings of an old jail that was opened after the camp shut down in 1959. In the 1980s, ethnic Turks were imprisoned by the communists for refusing to change their names to Bulgarian. Some young residents of the impoverished town of Belene, connected to the island by a pontoon bridge, also express longing for the past, with Anelia Beeva saying they had a better quality of life with holidays to the coast and mountains, as well as an abundance of clothes, shoes, and food. Currently, a large portion of our earnings is used for food expenses. Individuals with higher education degrees are struggling to find employment and are often forced to relocate to other countries. In Moscow, a number of restaurants with Soviet themes have emerged, hosting events where young individuals dress up as pioneers and dance to communist music. Soviet Champagne and Red October Chocolates are still popular choices for birthday celebrations. Additionally, "USSR" merchandise like T-shirts and baseball caps are commonly sported in Russia during the summer months. While there is little desire to bring back old regimes, analysts argue that apathy is a significant result. Bulgarian sociologist Vladimir Shopov wrote that nostalgia can harm the drive for meaningful change by depleting energy. Disenchantment with democracy is prevalent in former communist eastern Europe, with mistrust towards the elites who facilitated EU citizenship. A regional poll by US Pew research center in September revealed a significant decline in support for democracy and capitalism in countries such as Ukraine, Bulgaria, Lithuania, and Hungary. The poll indicated that only 30 percent of Ukrainians approved of the shift to democracy in 2009, a sharp decline from 72 percent in 1991. In Bulgaria and Lithuania, the percentage of the population affected by the economic downturn decreased from almost three-quarters in 1991 to just over half. According to surveys conducted by the US-based human rights group Freedom House, there has been a decline or lack of progress in corruption, governance, independent media, and civil society in the new EU-member states. The global economic crisis has impacted the region, leading to the end of several years of growth and challenging the neoliberal capitalism model promoted by the West. Instead of aspiring to reach the economic level of their wealthy Western neighbors, people in these countries now feel a sense of injustice due to the widening gap between the rich and the poor. In Hungary, where the economic downturn has been particularly severe, a survey conducted by pollster Szonda Ipsos in October revealed that 70 percent of adults who were already of age in 1989 were disappointed with the outcomes of the regime change. People in the former Yugoslav countries, who were affected by the ethnic wars in the 1990s and are still not part of the EU, often feel nostalgic for the socialist era of Josip Broz Tito. During that time, they were able to travel throughout Europe without needing a visa. Belgrade pensioner Koviljka Markovic, 70, reminisced about the past, saying that everything was better back then. There was minimal street crime, job security, and salaries were sufficient for a decent standard of living. Nowadays, Markovic struggles to make ends meet with her monthly pension of 250 euros ($370). In Bulgaria, some people view the 33-year rule of the late dictator Todor Zhivkov as a golden era compared to the widespread corruption and crime that followed his downfall. More than 60 percent of people believe they had a better life in the past, despite having to deal with long shopping lines, relying on social connections for valuable goods, not being able to access jeans and Coca Cola, and waiting up to 10 years to buy a car. Historians Andrei Pantev and Bozhidar Gavrilov noted in a book about Bulgaria's history that for some Bulgarians, security was more important than freedom. Even after nearly three years of being a part of the EU, Bulgaria still has the lowest average monthly salary and pension in the union. Countries like Poland and the Czech Republic, which joined the EU in 2004, also have lower incomes compared to western European countries. A 2008 survey by Gallup identified Bulgaria, Serbia, and Romania as some of the most dissatisfied countries in the world. Zsofia Kis, a 23-year-old student in Budapest, expressed that the previous generation, our parents, were content with what they had, unlike the current trend of wanting more. She mentioned how communist regimes artificially kept unemployment rates low. After years of slow and difficult reforms, many people are now unwilling to make further sacrifices required for a complete overhaul of the economy and judiciary. This has led to demoralization and increased support for political parties advocating for stricter measures. Former KGB agent Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has referred to the collapse of the Soviet Union as the most significant geopolitical disaster of the century. Critics of the Kremlin believe that there is a gradual attempt to rehabilitate the Soviet Union in order to justify the government's control over the media and opposition. Historian Nikita Petrov from the Memorial human rights group has noted a trend of idealizing the Soviet past as a deliberate strategy to make the Soviet authorities appear favorable to the current generation. In Bulgaria, powerful individuals known as oligarchs who have significant control over various sectors of the economy have emerged from the former communist party and its feared secret services. The names of corrupt politicians and crime bosses are widely known, yet Bulgaria has not successfully prosecuted any high-ranking officials for corruption since 1989, with only one gang boss being jailed. There have been no convictions for the crimes committed during the communist era. Commonly used terms among Bulgarians include "dalavera", a Turkish word for fraud, "mutri", a term for unsightly mafiosi, and "mente", which refers to counterfeit goods. Many people are beginning to lose faith in the possibility of achieving success through honest and ethical means. According to Boriana Dimitrova of Bulgarian polling agency Alpha Research, success is seen as illegal. In the Balkans, which is considered Europe's poorest region, there is a strong feeling of unfairness due to the existence of powerful hidden systems of control. Some believe that while the old regime was oppressive, it at least maintained law and order. Prime Minister Boiko Borisov of the centre-right populist GERB party won a decisive election victory in Bulgaria in July by promising to put an end to the culture of impunity. Analysts suggest that in the face of public discontent and economic decline, only populist governments can stay in power in the region. Ivan Krastev from Sofia's Liberal Strategies Institute expressed that the high level of mistrust towards the political elite and institutions makes it difficult to persuade people to cooperate with unpopular governments. Some individuals in Bulgaria believe that the West is being hypocritical by accepting former communist officials into positions of power. The election of Bulgarian Irina Bokova, a former communist official, as the head of UNESCO was seen as a clear example of this hypocrisy. Critics argue that Bokova's past played a significant role in her career advancement. Despite this, some eastern Europeans believe they have successfully adopted capitalist ideals, particularly in terms of materialism. During the boom years, many loans were used to purchase luxury items such as fancy cars, yachts, flat TV screens, designer clothes, and to fund exotic trips abroad. There was also a trend of adopting Western standards, including giving babies Western names and watching reality shows like "Big Brother". Renowned Bulgarian artist, Nikola Manev, living in Paris, expressed concern that Bulgaria was becoming too Americanized, with people speaking English and restaurants named after American cities. He questioned why Bulgarian culture was being overshadowed. He observed that despite the new buildings, shops, and shiny cars on the surface, people have actually become more unhappy, aggressive, and sad. He recommended spiritual remedies for this issue. This fall, tickets for Sofia's theaters are selling out weeks in advance, which is a first in many years.