Boyko Lambovski on the significance of 10 November 1989

Sega newspaper reflects on the lessons learned since the system change that began on November 10, 1989. "At the time we didn't know that democracy consists of the laborious construction of rules tailored to the majority, and of the even more laborious necessity of abiding by them. We didn't know that democracy offers the possibility of discovering ugliness, greed and aggression all around you, and even in yourself. We were the product of another social contract, a political culture forged in Moscow. This culture was imperfect and absurd, but it cared for individuals by guaranteeing them bread while denying them immorality. ... We did not really change after November 10. The Komsomol [youth organisation of the Soviet Communist Party] activist has become a liberal, while the former manager - now a private entrepreneur - continues to rely on political connections with the old establishment. And the humble worker complains about arbitrary decisions taken at a company or state level, just like he did before about the absurdities of the partocracy [rule of the party]. After November 10 came - logically - November 11. What we have gained in the process is freedom of movement and freedom of opinion, even if it may seem rather relative. My only fear is that without an outside guarantor, collective psychology could take another spin and cause us to lose these acquisitions once again."

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