In the lush forests of the picturesque Danube island of Persin in BELENE, Bulgaria, lies the haunting remnants of a communist-era death camp. Between 1949 and 1959, numerous "enemies of the regime" lost their lives due to beatings, malnutrition, and exhaustion at the Belene concentration camp, where deceased bodies were fed to pigs. Despite the passage of two decades since communism's downfall, Belene has largely faded from memory, with only a small marble plaque recounting its grim history. A sense of nostalgia for the past is on the rise in the small Balkan nation and throughout the former Soviet bloc, as capitalism's shortcomings in improving living standards, establishing the rule of law, and curbing rampant corruption and nepotism have led to a yearning for the days when unemployment was nonexistent, food was affordable, and social security was robust. Rumen Petkov, a 42-year-old former guard who now works as a clerk at the only remaining prison on Persin island, remarked that the negative aspects of the past have been forgotten. He noted that there is a sense of nostalgia, especially among the older population, as he stood in front of the deteriorating buildings of a former jail that was opened on the site after the camp closed in 1959. During the 1980s, the communists imprisoned numerous ethnic Turks on the island for refusing to change their names to Bulgarian. Some young residents of Belene, a town connected to the island by a pontoon bridge, also look back fondly on the past, with Anelia Beeva, 31, commenting that life was better before with more opportunities for holidays and access to clothing, shoes, and food. Currently, a significant portion of our earnings is allocated towards food expenses, as individuals with higher education levels are struggling with unemployment and often choose to seek opportunities abroad. In Moscow, a number of Soviet-themed restaurants have emerged, hosting nostalgia nights where individuals don pioneer attire and dance to communist music. Traditional Soviet products like Champagne and Red October Chocolates are still popular choices for birthday festivities, while "USSR" merchandise such as T-shirts and baseball caps are commonly spotted throughout the country during the summer months. While there is little genuine desire for the restoration of old regimes, analysts argue that apathy is a significant consequence. Bulgarian sociologist Vladimir Shopov expressed in the online portal BG History that nostalgia can lead to a lack of motivation for meaningful change. Disenchantment with democracy is widespread across former communist eastern Europe, with pollsters noting a high level of mistrust towards the elites responsible for EU citizenship. A regional poll conducted by the U.S. Pew Research Center in September revealed a significant decline in support for democracy and capitalism in Ukraine, Bulgaria, Lithuania, and Hungary. For example, only 30 percent of Ukrainians approved of the shift to democracy in 2009, compared to 72 percent in 1991. In Bulgaria and Lithuania, the percentage of the population affected by the economic downturn decreased from nearly three-quarters in 1991 to just over half. Surveys conducted by the U.S.-based human rights organization Freedom House have revealed a regression or standstill in corruption, governance, independent media, and civil society in the new EU-member states. The global economic crisis has negatively impacted the region, leading to a halt in the growth experienced over the past six or seven years, challenging the effectiveness of neoliberal capitalism advocated by the West. Instead of aspiring to catch up with their wealthy Western neighbors, there is now a growing sense of injustice due to the widening gap between the rich and the poor. In Hungary, one of the countries hit hardest by the economic downturn, a poll conducted by Szonda Ipsos in October showed that 70 percent of adults who lived through the regime change in 1989 were disappointed with the results. People in the former Yugoslav countries, who were affected by the ethnic wars in the 1990s and are still not part of the EU, are feeling nostalgic for the socialist era of Josip Broz Tito. During that time, they were able to travel across Europe without needing a visa. Belgrade pensioner Koviljka Markovic, 70, stated that life was better back then with no street crime, secure jobs, and salaries that provided a decent living. Now, she struggles to survive on her pension of 250 euros ($370 a month). In Bulgaria, some view the 33-year rule of late dictator Todor Zhivkov as a golden era compared to the corruption and crime that followed his downfall. More than 60 percent of people believe they had a better quality of life in the past, despite having to endure shopping queues, relying on social connections to access valuable goods, being unable to wear jeans or drink Coca Cola, and waiting up to 10 years to purchase a car. Some Bulgarians valued security over freedom, according to historians Pantev and Gavrilov. Even after almost three years in the EU, Bulgaria's average monthly salary of around 300 euros and pension of about 80 euros are the lowest in the region. In comparison, Poland and the Czech Republic, which joined the EU in 2004, also have lower incomes than countries in western Europe. Bulgaria, Serbia, and Romania were ranked among the top 10 most discontented countries in the world in a 2008 Gallup survey. "Our parents' generation was content with what they had, unlike the current trend of always wanting more," said Zsofia Kis, a 23-year-old student in Budapest, discussing how communist regimes kept unemployment artificially low. After years of difficult reforms, most people are now unwilling to make further sacrifices necessary for a complete overhaul of the economy and judiciary. This has led to demoralization and increased support for political parties promising a strong leadership. This trend is not without justification. 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 claim that there is a gradual rehabilitation of the Soviet Union in order to justify the government's restrictions on media and opposition parties. Historian Nikita Petrov from the Memorial human rights group believes that there is an idealization of the Soviet past happening deliberately, with an attempt to portray the Soviet authorities in a positive light to the younger generation. In Bulgaria, powerful individuals known as oligarchs, who dominate various sectors of the economy, have risen from the ranks of the former communist party and its feared secret services. The names of dishonest politicians and criminal leaders are widely known, yet Bulgaria has not successfully prosecuted any high-ranking officials for corruption and has only imprisoned one gang leader since 1989. No one has been held accountable for the atrocities committed during the communist era. Common terms among ordinary Bulgarians include "dalavera," a Turkish term for fraud, "mutri," a derogatory term for unsavory mafia figures, and "mente," which refers to counterfeit goods. Many people are becoming disillusioned with the idea that success can be achieved through honest and ethical means. Boriana Dimitrova from Bulgarian polling agency Alpha Research stated that success is seen as illegal, especially in the Balkans, where powerful parallel structures of authority exist. Many believe that while the old regime was oppressive, it at least maintained law and order. Prime Minister Boiko Borisov of the center-right populist GERB party won a decisive victory in the July Bulgarian election by promising to end the culture of impunity. Analysts believe that only populist governments can thrive in the region due to public discontent and economic downturn. According to Ivan Krastev of Sofia's Liberal Strategies Institute, the level of distrust towards the political elite and institutions is so high that it is difficult to convince people to cooperate under unpopular governments. Critics in Bulgaria believe that the West is being hypocritical by accepting former communist officials into positions of power, such as the election of Bulgarian Irina Bokova as head of UNESCO. Bokova's past as a communist apparatchik and her ties to Moscow have raised questions about the West's supposed values. Despite this, some eastern Europeans feel that they have successfully adopted capitalist ideals, particularly in terms of materialism. A significant portion of the loans acquired during the prosperous years was used for luxury items such as cars, yachts, TVs, clothes, surgeries, and vacations. The trend of adopting foreign customs extended to naming babies after Western names and showcasing reality shows like "Big Brother" on television. "Bulgaria is undergoing Americanization," noted Bulgarian artist Nikola Manev, residing in Paris. Manev expressed frustration with the prevalence of English language and Americanized names in Bulgaria, questioning the loss of the country's own identity. He observed that despite the outward appearance of new buildings, shops, and shiny cars, people seem to be experiencing increased sadness, aggression, and unhappiness. He suggested that spiritual remedies may be needed. This autumn, tickets for Sofia's theaters are selling out weeks in advance, which is a rare occurrence in recent years.