In the dense forests of the picturesque Danube island of Persin, where endangered species like the sea eagle and pygmy cormorant reside, lies the grim remnants of a communist-era death camp. Between 1949 and 1959, hundreds of "enemies of the regime" lost their lives in Bulgaria's Belene concentration camp due to beatings, malnutrition, and exhaustion. The deceased were even fed to pigs. Despite two decades passing since the collapse of communism, Belene has largely been forgotten, with only a small marble plaque recounting its tragic history. Nostalgia for the past is on the rise in the small Balkan nation and throughout the former Soviet bloc. The failings of capitalism to improve living conditions, establish the rule of law, and combat rampant corruption and nepotism have led to a yearning for the times when unemployment was nonexistent, food was affordable, and social security was strong. Rumen Petkov, a 42-year-old former guard turned clerk at the only prison still operating on Persin island, mentioned that the negative aspects of the past have been overlooked. He noted that there is a strong sense of nostalgia, especially among the older population, as he stood in front of the deteriorating buildings of another older prison that was opened on the site after the closure of the camp in 1959. In the 1980s, the communists detained numerous ethnic Turks at the facility 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 reflect on the past fondly, with Anelia Beeva, 31, stating, "We had a better quality of life back then. We used to go on vacations to the coast and mountains, there was an abundance of clothing, shoes, and food." Currently, a significant portion of our earnings is allocated towards food expenses. Those with higher education degrees are facing unemployment and are choosing to move overseas. In Russia, there has been a trend of Soviet-themed restaurants opening in Moscow, where young individuals partake in nostalgia nights by dressing up as pioneers and dancing to communist songs. Soviet Champagne and Red October Chocolates are popular choices for birthday festivities, and "USSR" merchandise like t-shirts and baseball caps are commonly worn during the summer months. While there is minimal desire for the restoration of old regimes, experts believe that apathy is a significant consequence. Bulgarian sociologist Vladimir Shopov stated that nostalgia negatively impacts the drive for meaningful change. Disenchantment with democracy is widespread in former communist eastern Europe, with a significant mistrust of the elites who facilitated EU citizenship. A recent regional poll by the US Pew Research Center revealed a decline in support for democracy and capitalism in countries like 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 has decreased from nearly three-quarters in 1991. Surveys conducted by the US-based human rights group Freedom House indicate a regression or lack of progress in corruption, governance, independent media, and civil society in the new EU member states. The global economic crisis has negatively impacted the region, ending a period of growth and challenging the neoliberal capitalist approach advocated by the West. Aspirations of bridging the gap with wealthier Western countries have been replaced by a feeling of unfairness due to the widening wealth disparity. In Hungary, a country heavily impacted by the economic crisis, a survey conducted by pollster Szonda Ipsos in October revealed that 70 percent of adults who lived through the regime change in 1989 expressed disappointment in the outcomes. People in the former Yugoslav countries long for the socialist era of Josip Broz Tito, when they were able to travel across Europe without a visa. Belgrade pensioner Koviljka Markovic, 70, believes that life was better back then, with no street crime, secure jobs, and salaries that provided a decent living. 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. According to a book on influential people in Bulgaria's history by historians Andrei Pantev and Bozhidar Gavrilov, over 60 percent of Bulgarians believe they had a better standard of living in the past, despite facing shopping queues, limited social connections for obtaining goods, restrictions on items like jeans and Coca Cola, and long waiting times for purchasing a car. The authors also note that for some Bulgarians, security was more important than freedom. Even three years after joining the EU, Bulgaria still has the lowest average monthly salary and pension in the union. Additionally, countries like Poland and the Czech Republic, which joined the EU in 2004, also have lower incomes compared to western European countries. A 2008 Gallup survey ranked Bulgaria, Serbia, and Romania among the top 10 most dissatisfied countries in the world. Zsofia Kis, a 23-year old student in Budapest, commented that the previous generation, our parents, were content with what they had, unlike today where everyone seems to want more. She mentioned how communist regimes artificially kept unemployment low. After years of difficult reforms, many people are unwilling to make further sacrifices necessary for a complete overhaul of the economy and judiciary. This has led to demoralization and an increase in support for political parties promising strong leadership. Former KGB agent Prime Minister Vladimir Putin referred to the collapse of the Soviet Union as the most significant geopolitical disaster of the century. Critics of the Kremlin believe that the government is attempting to rehabilitate the Soviet Union in order to justify their restrictions on the media and opposition parties. Historian Nikita Petrov from the Memorial human rights group stated that there is a deliberate effort to idealize the Soviet past and present it in a positive light to younger generations. In Bulgaria, powerful individuals who dominate entire industries have risen from the ranks of the former communist party and its feared secret services. The identities of corrupt politicians and criminal leaders are widely known, yet Bulgaria has not punished any high-ranking officials for corruption and has only imprisoned one crime boss since 1989. No one has been held accountable for the atrocities committed during the communist era. Common words among everyday Bulgarians include "dalavera," a Turkish term for fraud, "mutri," a derogatory term for unsightly mafia members, and "mente," which refers to counterfeit goods. There is a growing sense of disillusionment among the population, with many doubting that success can be achieved through honest means. Boriana Dimitrova from Bulgarian polling agency Alpha Research stated that success is seen as illegal, especially in the Balkans, Europe's poorest region, where powerful parallel structures of authority operate without consequences. Some individuals believe that although the old regime was oppressive, there was at least some semblance of law and order. Prime Minister Boiko Borisov of the right-wing populist GERB party won a significant victory in Bulgaria's July election by promising to put an end to the culture of impunity. Analysts suggest that due to public dissatisfaction and economic downturn, only populist governments can thrive in the area. Ivan Krastev of Sofia's Liberal Strategies Institute stated that the high level of mistrust in political elite and institutions makes it difficult to convince people to cooperate under unpopular governments. Some in Bulgaria believe that the West is hypocritical for accepting former communists into positions of power. Critics point to the election of Bulgarian Irina Bokova, a former communist and ambassador to Paris, as head of UNESCO as an example of this hypocrisy. Bokova's past in Moscow during communism helped her advance in her diplomatic career in the 1990s. Some eastern Europeans believe they have caught up with and even surpassed capitalist standards in terms of materialism. During the prosperous years, a substantial portion of the loans acquired were used to purchase luxurious items such as fancy cars, yachts, flat-screen TVs, designer clothing, cosmetic surgeries, and international vacations. The trend of adopting foreign customs even extended to giving babies Western names and saturating television with reality shows like "Big Brother." Bulgarian artist Nikola Manev, residing in Paris, remarked on this phenomenon, stating, "Bulgaria is becoming Americanized." Manev expressed frustration with the prevalence of English language and American-influenced establishments in Bulgaria, questioning the loss of national identity. He observed that despite the new developments like buildings, shops, and cars, people are becoming increasingly unhappy and aggressive, suggesting spiritual solutions. This fall, tickets for shows at Sofia's theaters are in high demand for the first time in years.