During the communist regime in Eastern Europe there was a trend of building these workers’ colonies. A lot of people have been deployed in these “communities”, convinced or forced to work in the surrounding mines, factories or farms. With communism eradicated and the changes brought by capitalism, these places, once thriving, have felt into disrepair.
After the 1990s, capitalism swept in these European countries, but its promise of a better world failed to reach these people. Transition to a free market economy was characterized by rampant corruption and the building of an elite oligarch class that dominates politics and economics even today. Privatization targeted political clients and once international financial institutions pressured Eastern Countries to drop subsidies most of the industry collapsed.
The people living there, lacking other possibilities or opportunities, had no other choice but to stay put and continue to reside in these settlements, despite the harsher and harsher living conditions. Many of them miss out on electricity, current water and heating.
Most of the adults are unemployed, as the jobs they were deployed there for no longer exist, new ones were never created, professional reorientation is not quite at hand and financial possibilities to move are non-existent. As for the children, most of them have to walk considerable distances to get to a school.
Left without means to ensure their livelihood, some may even end up regretting the former regime. “At least I had a job back then and I could feed my children.” Communist nostalgia is symptomatic in Eastern European countries that have not managed to deal with their 20th century legacy.
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