Richard Golian

1995-born. Charles University alum. Head of Performance at Mixit. 10+ years in marketing and data.

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Politics — Richard Golian

Politics

Growing up in Slovakia during the fragile democratic period of the 1990s shaped how I view politics today. In these articles I write about Slovak politics, European integration, democracy and the political developments shaping Central Europe and the European Union.

13 articles

Slovakia's Economy in 2026: From Tatra Tiger to the Bottom of the V4

What happened — and how can it be reversed?

Manipulation of Attention Through Outrage, Anger and Fear. How Politics Manipulates

It happens every day. It is happening right now.
23 March 2026 915

How We Are Manipulated Without Knowing It — And Why It Works

Manipulation without the feeling of being manipulated is the most effective kind.
28 February 2026 1 087

The EU–US Trade Deal: What Europe Gave Away and What It Got in Return

Big players like the US and China treat us as second-class partners. It is hard to watch.
17 August 2025 1 304

Why Is Slovakia Pro-Russian? You Will not Fully Understand It — Here is Why

In every conflict, Slovaks are winners. Why? Because they are always on both sides.
10 May 2025 1 882

What Is Europe's Purpose Today — Compared to the USA, China, Russia, and India?

Are the debates that today appear in political struggles and divide Europe more important than this?
8 May 2025 1 778

Robert Fico Forgets When and How the Second World War Began

How can we expect to come to terms with history or learn from it if we do that?
7 May 2025 1 658

How Robert Fico Divides Slovak Society — and Why It Tears Families Apart

The result is a fractured society where even family gatherings often become battlegrounds for ideological clashes.
25 January 2025 1 633

Who Are Volt Europa? The Pan-European Party That Wants to Unite the Continent

A real pan-European political party?
18 March 2019 4 292
Politics shapes everything — from the economy to the information we consume — yet most political writing is either partisan or superficial. These articles take a different approach. Written from the perspective of someone who grew up in post-communist Slovakia and studied political philosophy, they explore democracy under pressure, European integration, populism, and the mechanics of political manipulation. The focus is on understanding how power works, not on telling you what to think.

Common questions about this topic?

What is the state of democracy in Central Europe?
Democracy in Central Europe is under pressure. Countries like Slovakia and Hungary face challenges from populism, media capture, and declining institutional trust. The democratic infrastructure exists, but civic engagement and media literacy are not keeping pace with the threats.
What is Volt Europe?
Volt Europe is a pan-European political party founded in 2017. It operates in all EU member states with a single program focused on EU reform, progressive values, and cross-border solutions. It represents a new model of doing politics beyond national boundaries.
How does political manipulation work on social media?
Political manipulation on social media exploits emotional triggers — fear, outrage, identity. Algorithms amplify divisive content because it generates engagement. The result is a distorted information environment where manufactured narratives can spread faster than facts.