The Pâté Phenomenon: Why We’re Addicted to the Wrong Neighbors

 

The Pâté Phenomenon: Why We’re Addicted to the Wrong Neighbors

The other day, I saw this guy on TikTok. A Serb living in Slovenia. He’s one of those annoyingly talented people—sings, plays multiple instruments, speaks a bunch of languages, and dissects daily events like a pro. He was talking about life in Slovenia. He pointed out that their billboards don’t scream at you to go to a casino or buy cheap pork chops. No, they advertise cultural events. Art. Concerts. Strange stuff like that.

He said that in Slovenia, politics is a secondary thing. Most people don't even know who the Prime Minister is or who the President is (it’s a woman, by the way). Meanwhile, in Serbia, President Vučić pops out of the "pâté" every single day. He’s everywhere.

"In Croatia, politicians are like Hollywood celebrities, only with worse hair and no talent." 

Since I live in Zagreb, Croatia, I suddenly had this "aha" moment. It’s the same thing here, just with a prettier filter. Our politicians are treated like Hollywood celebrities, minus the charisma. Our billboards are a loud, tacky mess of supermarkets and betting shops.

But here’s what really gets me: we are drowning in our own politics, and then, for some reason, we’re drowning in Serbian politics, too. In the Croatian media, you’ll find at least ten articles a day about what Vučić said or did. It’s absurd. We know nothing about the Slovenian Prime Minister, let alone their President.

"Vučić pops out of the pâté so often I’ve started checking my breakfast for political statements." 

Just today, I stumbled upon an interview with the Slovenian President in a Croatian news outlet. I stopped and asked the people around me if they knew who the Slovenian President was. I intentionally used the masculine form in Croatian just to see if they’d catch it. Their answer? "Uh, Janez Janša or something?"

Janša hasn't been in power for over a decade.

We know nothing about Slovenia because we aren't told anything, unless there’s a protest or some border dispute. There is no "good neighbor" policy. Even though Croats and Slovenians don't actually have a problem with each other, the media pushes the idea that we do. Meanwhile, they keep us tethered to Serbia, acting like we're obligated to know every word that comes out of Vučić’s mouth.

It was another "aha" moment. Someone is pushing a specific agenda through the media. The reality is, we’ve become two completely different countries. Aside from some bad trap music, we have almost nothing in common anymore.

And yet, that old Yugoslav-era political ghost just won't stay dead.

So it goes.