A new European survey reveals that Romania ranks among the nations with the highest percentage of citizens who would accept dictatorship over democracy under certain circumstances, according to Romania Journal, highlighting a broader trend across former communist states where economic frustration and disillusionment have created openness to authoritarian alternatives.This isn't abstract polling data—it's a leading indicator of democratic backsliding. I covered Hungary's transformation and saw similar sentiment shifts precede institutional capture. The question is whether economic conditions or deliberate disinformation campaigns drive these attitudes, because the remedies are entirely different.The survey, conducted across multiple European nations, found that a significant minority of Romanian respondents would accept non-democratic governance if it promised economic prosperity or political stability. Similar patterns emerged in other Central and Eastern European countries, suggesting regional trends rather than isolated national phenomena.The findings reflect deep frustration with democratic institutions that many citizens view as corrupt, ineffective, or captured by elites. Decades after the fall of communism, expectations for rapid convergence with Western European living standards have gone largely unfulfilled. Persistent inequality, emigration of young educated workers, and perception that democratic politics serves narrow interests have eroded confidence in the system.To understand today's headlines, we must look at yesterday's decisions. The post-communist transition promised democracy and prosperity simultaneously. When economic transformation proved more difficult and unequal than anticipated, democratic institutions absorbed much of the blame. The result is a generation of voters who experienced both communist dictatorship and democratic disappointment, creating space for authoritarian nostalgia or opportunistic strongmen.The survey results also correlate with media environments. Countries with higher concentrations of Russian-language media or domestic outlets promoting conspiracy theories and anti-Western narratives tend to show greater openness to authoritarian governance. This suggests that information ecosystems play a crucial role in shaping political preferences.Romania itself has experienced significant political instability in recent years, with rotating governments, corruption scandals, and massive protests against perceived abuse of power. The Constitutional Court's controversial decision to annul the first round of the 2024 presidential election, citing foreign interference concerns, intensified political polarization and raised questions about judicial independence.The implications extend beyond Romania. The European Union has struggled to address democratic backsliding in member states, with Hungary and Poland serving as prominent examples of governments that maintain electoral competition while systematically undermining checks on executive power, independent media, and civil society.The economic dimension cannot be ignored. Regions showing greatest openness to authoritarianism often correlate with areas experiencing economic stagnation, demographic decline, or perception of being left behind by globalization. The sense that democracy has failed to deliver material improvement creates vulnerability to politicians promising order, prosperity, or national revival through concentrated power.What makes this particularly concerning is the international context. Authoritarian powers have demonstrated sustained interest in undermining democratic cohesion in Europe, both through direct interference and through amplifying existing grievances. The combination of domestic frustration and external manipulation creates conditions conducive to democratic erosion.The path forward requires addressing both symptoms and causes. Strengthening democratic institutions and media literacy can build resilience against disinformation. But sustainable solutions require demonstrating that democratic governance can actually deliver improved living standards and responsive government. Without that, polling data suggesting openness to authoritarianism may eventually translate into political reality.