Dominated for centuries by those who have come to Europe before them, Slavs have done exceedingly well in the last turbulent century. Mainly on account of their exemplary endurance, they have formed many states on the eastern fringes of Europe. The tide is turning against them, though. Unused to minding any other but their own petty business, as well as used to obstructing the powers that be, no matter how progressive, they cannot manage their own affairs. All those who used to dominate them for centuries are coming back. Others from afar are joining them, too. And in earnest. Within a century at most, the Slavs will be slaving for others once again, even in their own states. But only try sharing such idle thoughts about the future of these vaunted states with the Slavs themselves!

Addendum I (September 22, 2007)

Just so no-one gets too smug about such idle thoughts, they should only think of the perfectly credible scenario whereby Europe gets the wrong end of climate change. The calamity! The horror! Most likely, Slavs would acquit themselves admirably once again. And chances are they would do so much better than anyone else around. Under some circumstances, coming late to a crowded continent can be a great blessing, too. Just so no-one gets any wrong ideas about things to come…

Addendum II (September 13, 2015)

The current refugee crisis in the European Union shows that Slavs may play a wide variety of rôles as climate change grabs hold of the subcontinent. On one side of the spectrum, they may help smuggle refugees into the heart of Europe. As the current crisis shows, there is much to be gained from people smuggling. Over many centuries, Slavs have polished smuggling into an art form. On the other side of the same spectrum, they may become Europe’s bulwark in the growing onslaught of refugees. Along the lines of erstwhile cordon sanitaire, many Slavic countries are well experienced at the game, which took a good part of the Twentieth Century, and in which they also switched sides halfway through. In other words, the Iron Curtain may be of great value to the subcontinent one fine day. Enough said, though. Perish such idle thoughts!