Romania's "End of Transition" Deconstructed
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Romanian Political Science Review Vol. XXI, No. 1 2021
Romanian Political Science Review vol. XXI, no. 1 2021 The end of the Cold War, and the extinction of communism both as an ideology and a practice of government, not only have made possible an unparalleled experiment in building a democratic order in Central and Eastern Europe, but have opened up a most extraordinary intellectual opportunity: to understand, compare and eventually appraise what had previously been neither understandable nor comparable. Studia Politica. Romanian Political Science Review was established in the realization that the problems and concerns of both new and old democracies are beginning to converge. The journal fosters the work of the first generations of Romanian political scientists permeated by a sense of critical engagement with European and American intellectual and political traditions that inspired and explained the modern notions of democracy, pluralism, political liberty, individual freedom, and civil rights. Believing that ideas do matter, the Editors share a common commitment as intellectuals and scholars to try to shed light on the major political problems facing Romania, a country that has recently undergone unprecedented political and social changes. They think of Studia Politica. Romanian Political Science Review as a challenge and a mandate to be involved in scholarly issues of fundamental importance, related not only to the democratization of Romanian polity and politics, to the “great transformation” that is taking place in Central and Eastern Europe, but also to the make-over of the assumptions and prospects of their discipline. They hope to be joined in by those scholars in other countries who feel that the demise of communism calls for a new political science able to reassess the very foundations of democratic ideals and procedures. -
Communism and Post-Communism in Romania : Challenges to Democratic Transition
TITLE : COMMUNISM AND POST-COMMUNISM IN ROMANIA : CHALLENGES TO DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION AUTHOR : VLADIMIR TISMANEANU, University of Marylan d THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FO R EURASIAN AND EAST EUROPEAN RESEARC H TITLE VIII PROGRA M 1755 Massachusetts Avenue, N .W . Washington, D .C . 20036 LEGAL NOTICE The Government of the District of Columbia has certified an amendment of th e Articles of Incorporation of the National Council for Soviet and East European Research changing the name of the Corporation to THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR EURASIAN AND EAST EUROPEAN RESEARCH, effective on June 9, 1997. Grants, contracts and all other legal engagements of and with the Corporation made unde r its former name are unaffected and remain in force unless/until modified in writin g by the parties thereto . PROJECT INFORMATION : 1 CONTRACTOR : University of Marylan d PR1NCIPAL 1NVEST1GATOR : Vladimir Tismanean u COUNCIL CONTRACT NUMBER : 81 1-2 3 DATE : March 26, 1998 COPYRIGHT INFORMATIO N Individual researchers retain the copyright on their work products derived from research funded by contract with the National Council for Eurasian and East European Research . However, the Council and the United States Government have the right to duplicate an d disseminate, in written and electronic form, this Report submitted to the Council under thi s Contract, as follows : Such dissemination may be made by the Council solely (a) for its ow n internal use, and (b) to the United States Government (1) for its own internal use ; (2) for further dissemination to domestic, international and foreign governments, entities an d individuals to serve official United States Government purposes ; and (3) for dissemination i n accordance with the Freedom of Information Act or other law or policy of the United State s Government granting the public rights of access to documents held by the United State s Government. -
Between Denial and "Comparative Trivialization": Holocaust Negationism in Post-Communist East Central Europe
Between Denial and "Comparative Trivialization": Holocaust Negationism in Post-Communist East Central Europe Michael Shafir Motto: They used to pour millet on graves or poppy seeds To feed the dead who would come disguised as birds. I put this book here for you, who once lived So that you should visit us no more Czeslaw Milosz Introduction* Holocaust denial in post-Communist East Central Europe is a fact. And, like most facts, its shades are many. Sometimes, denial comes in explicit forms – visible and universally-aggressive. At other times, however, it is implicit rather than explicit, particularistic rather than universal, defensive rather than aggressive. And between these two poles, the spectrum is large enough to allow for a large variety of forms, some of which may escape the eye of all but the most versatile connoisseurs of country-specific history, culture, or immediate political environment. In other words, Holocaust denial in the region ranges from sheer emulation of negationism elsewhere in the world to regional-specific forms of collective defense of national "historic memory" and to merely banal, indeed sometime cynical, attempts at the utilitarian exploitation of an immediate political context.1 The paradox of Holocaust negation in East Central Europe is that, alas, this is neither "good" nor "bad" for the Jews.2 But it is an important part of the * I would like to acknowledge the support of the J. and O. Winter Fund of the Graduate Center of the City University of New York for research conducted in connection with this project. I am indebted to friends and colleagues who read manuscripts of earlier versions and provided comments and corrections. -
Romania Redivivus
alexander clapp ROMANIA REDIVIVUS nce the badlands of neoliberal Europe, Romania has become its bustling frontier. A post-communist mafia state that was cast to the bottom of the European heap by opinion- makers sixteen years ago is now billed as the success story Oof eu expansion.1 Its growth rate at nearly 6 per cent is the highest on the continent, albeit boosted by fiscal largesse.2 In Bucharest more politicians have been put in jail for corruption over the past decade than have been convicted in the rest of Eastern Europe put together. Romania causes Brussels and Berlin almost none of the headaches inflicted by the Visegrád Group—Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia— which in 1993 declined to accept Romania as a peer and collectively entered the European Union three years before it. Romanians con- sistently rank among the most Europhile people in the Union.3 An anti-eu party has never appeared on a Romanian ballot, much less in the parliament. Scattered political appeals to unsavoury interwar traditions—Legionnairism, Greater Romanianism—attract fewer voters than do far-right movements across most of Western Europe. The two million Magyars of Transylvania, one of Europe’s largest minorities, have become a model for inter-ethnic relations after a time when the park benches of Cluj were gilded in the Romanian tricolore to remind every- one where they were. Indeed, perhaps the aptest symbol of Romania’s place in Europe today is the man who sits in the Presidential Palace of Cotroceni in Bucharest. Klaus Iohannis—a former physics teacher at a high school in Sibiu, once Hermannstadt—is an ethnic German head- ing a state that, a generation ago, was shipping hundreds of thousands of its ‘Saxons’ ‘back’ to Bonn at 4,000–10,000 Deutschmarks a head. -
Romania, December 2006
Library of Congress – Federal Research Division Country Profile: Romania, December 2006 COUNTRY PROFILE: ROMANIA December 2006 COUNTRY Formal Name: Romania. Short Form: Romania. Term for Citizen(s): Romanian(s). Capital: Bucharest (Bucureşti). Click to Enlarge Image Major Cities: As of 2003, Bucharest is the largest city in Romania, with 1.93 million inhabitants. Other major cities, in order of population, are Iaşi (313,444), Constanţa (309,965), Timişoara (308,019), Craiova (300,843), Galati (300,211), Cluj-Napoca (294,906), Braşov (286,371), and Ploeşti (236,724). Independence: July 13, 1878, from the Ottoman Empire; kingdom proclaimed March 26, 1881; Romanian People’s Republic proclaimed April 13, 1948. Public Holidays: Romania observes the following public holidays: New Year’s Day (January 1), Epiphany (January 6), Orthodox Easter (a variable date in April or early May), Labor Day (May 1), Unification Day (December 1), and National Day and Christmas (December 25). Flag: The Romanian flag has three equal vertical stripes of blue (left), yellow, and red. Click to Enlarge Image HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Early Human Settlement: Human settlement first occurred in the lands that now constitute Romania during the Pleistocene Epoch, which began about 600,000 years ago. About 5500 B.C. the region was inhabited by Indo-European people, who in turn gave way to Thracian tribes. Today’s Romanians are in part descended from the Getae, a Thracian tribe that lived north of the Danube River. During the Bronze Age (about 2200 to 1200 B.C.), these Thraco-Getian tribes engaged in agriculture, stock raising, and trade with inhabitants of the Aegean Sea coast. -
The Extreme Right in Contemporary Romania
INTERNATIONAL POLICY ANALYSIS The Extreme Right in Contemporary Romania RADU CINPOEª October 2012 n In contrast to the recent past of the country, there is a low presence of extreme right groups in the electoral competition of today’s Romania. A visible surge in the politi- cal success of such parties in the upcoming parliamentary elections of December 2012 seems to be unlikely. This signals a difference from the current trend in other European countries, but there is still potential for the growth of extremism in Roma- nia aligning it with the general direction in Europe. n Racist, discriminatory and intolerant attitudes are present within society. Casual intol- erance is widespread and racist or discriminatory statements often go unpunished. In the absence of a desire by politicians to lead by example, it is left to civil society organisations to pursue an educative agenda without much state-driven support. n Several prominent members of extreme right parties found refuge in other political forces in the last years. These cases of party migration make it hard to believe that the extreme views held by some of these ex-leaders of right-wing extremism have not found support in the political parties where they currently operate. The fact that some of these individuals manage to rally electoral support may in fact suggest that this happens precisely because of their original views and attitudes, rather than in spite of them. RADU CINPOEª | THE EXTREME RIGHT IN CONTEMPORARY ROMANIA Contents 1. Introduction. 3 2. Extreme Right Actors ...................................................4 2.1 The Greater Romania Party ..............................................4 2.2 The New Generation Party – Christian Democratic (PNG-CD) .....................6 2.3 The Party »Everything for the Country« (TPŢ) ................................7 2.4 The New Right (ND) Movement and the Nationalist Party .......................8 2.5 The Influence of the Romanian Orthodox Church on the Extreme Right Discourse .....8 3. -
Knowledge Creation in a Cross Cultural Context for Sustainable Organisation Change and Development
KNOWLEDGE CREATION IN A CROSS CULTURAL CONTEXT FOR SUSTAINABLE ORGANISATION CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT by Janet Firth A thesis submitted to the University of Wolverhampton in partial fulfilment for the degree of DOCTOR of PHILOSOPHY University of Wolverhampton Business School March 2015 This work of any part thereof has not previously been presented in any form to the University or to any other body whether for the purposes of assessment, publication or for any other purpose (unless otherwise indicated). Save for any express acknowledgements, references and/ or bibliographies cited in this work. I can confirm that the intellectual content of the work is the result of my own efforts and of no other person. The right of Janet Firth to be identified as author of this work is asserted in accordance with ss.77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. At this date copyright is owned by the author Signature...................Jan Firth......................................... Date...........................24/08/15........................................ i For Nicole Amy Firth 1986-2013 ii Acknowledgements I wish to record my thanks to everyone who has contributed to this research in any way. In particular I would like to thank the Romanian Border Police for giving me this unique and privileged opportunity to carry out my research, and for the commitment of the fourteen managers who without them this research would not have been possible. In particular my thanks go to the Commissioner, Chief of the Romanian Border Police at the time, who gave me the authority to carry out my research in the organisation at a time of transition and growing responsibility in the EU. -
Remarks to the People of Romania in Bucharest November 23, 2002
Administration of George W. Bush, 2002 / Nov. 23 the honor of this award. May God bless NOTE: The President spoke at 3:47 p.m. at Romania. Cotroceni Palace. In his remarks, he referred to President Ion Iliescu and Prime Minister Adrian Nastase of Romania. Remarks to the People of Romania in Bucharest November 23, 2002 Salut! Thank you all. Thank you, Mr. The path of freedom you’ve chosen is President. Thank you for being out here not easy, but it’s the only path worth tak- in the rain. Thank you for such a warm ing. I know that your hardship did not end welcome. Laura and I are honored to be with your oppression. America respects in this great country. As we started speak- your labor, your patience, your daily deter- ing, a rainbow appeared. God is smiling mination to find a better life. Your effort on us today. has been recognized by an offer to NATO I’m proud to stand in this great square membership. We welcome Romania into and to bring the good wishes of the Amer- NATO. ican people. Today we reaffirm the friend- NATO’s invitation to join was also a vote ship between your country and mine. I’m of confidence that you will continue the honored to carry a message to the people hard work of political, economic, and mili- of Romania: We proudly invite you to join tary reform. And as you do, you will have NATO, the great alliance of freedom. partners in all the nations of NATO. -
Download the Full Document About Romania
About Romania Romania (Romanian: România, IPA: [ro.mɨni.a]) is a country in Southeastern Europe sited in a historic region that dates back to antiquity. It shares border with Hungary and Serbia to the west, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova to the northeast, and Bulgaria to the south. Romania has a stretch of sea coast along the Black Sea. It is located roughly in the lower basin of the Danube and almost all of the Danube Delta is located within its territory. Romania is a parliamentary unitary state. As a nation-state, the country was formed by the merging of Moldavia and Wallachia in 1859 and it gained recognition of its independence in 1878. Later, in 1918, they were joined by Transylvania, Bukovina and Bessarabia. At the end of World War II, parts of its territories (roughly the present day Moldova) were occupied by USSR and Romania became a member of Warsaw Pact. With the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989, Romania started a series of political and economic reforms that peaked with Romania joining the European Union. Romania has been a member of the European Union since January 1, 2007, and has the ninth largest territory in the EU and with 22 million people [1] it has the 7th largest population among the EU member states. Its capital and largest city is Bucharest (Romanian: Bucureşti /bu.kureʃtʲ/ (help·info)), the sixth largest city in the EU with almost 2 million people. In 2007, Sibiu, a large city in Transylvania, was chosen as European Capital of Culture.[2] Romania joined NATO on March 29, 2004, and is also a member of the Latin Union, of the Francophonie and of OSCE. -
Vladimir Tismaneanu
Vladimir Tismăneanu este profesor de ştiinţe politice la Universitatea Maryland. În perioada martie–decembrie 2006 a fost preşedintele Co- misiei Prezidenţiale pentru Analiza Dictaturii Comuniste din România. Între februarie 2010 şi mai 2012 a fost preşedintele Consiliului Ştiin- ţific al Institutului de Investigare a Crimelor Comunismului şi Memoria Exilului Românesc (IICCMER). În 2007 a primit din partea Univer- si tăţii Maryland Distinguished International Service Award, iar Aso - cia ţia Americană de Ştiinţe Politice i-a acordat certificatul pentru me rite excepţionale în predarea ştiinţelor politice. Deţine titlul de doc- tor honoris causa al Universităţii de Vest din Timişoara (2002) şi al Şcolii Naţionale de Studii Politice şi Administrative din Bucureşti (2003). În iulie 2011, preşedintele Traian Băsescu i-a conferit Ordinul Naţional pentru Merit în grad de Mare Ofiţer pentru eforturile susţi- nute de promovare a democraţiei în România. Volume publicate (selecţie): Reinventarea politicului. Europa Răsăriteană de la Stalin la Havel (Free Press, 1992 şi 1993; Polirom, 1997 şi 2007); Fantasmele salvării. Democraţie, naţionalism şi mit în Europa post- co mu nistă (Princeton University Press, 1998 şi 2009; Polirom, 1999); Sta linism pentru eternitate. O istorie politică a comunismului românesc (University of California Press, 2003; Polirom, 2005; Humanitas, 2013; în 2004, Premiul Barbara Jelavich din partea American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies, ca lucrare excepţională în domeniul istoriei Europei de Răsărit şi Centrale); The Devil in History: Communism, Fascism, and Some Lessons of the Twentieth Century (University of California Press, 2012). Coeditor, împreună cu Dorin Dobrincu şi Cristian Vasile, al Raportului Final al Comisiei Prezidenţiale pentru Analiza Dictaturii Comuniste din România (Humanitas, 2007); coeditor, împreună cu Bogdan C. -
HUNGARIAN PRESS of TRANSYLVANIA Release No. 124
HUNGARIAN PRESS OF TRANSYLVANIA Release No. 124/1987 Bucharest, December 6, 1987 Károly Király Wrote A Letter to Party Leaders During the summer, Károly Király (b. 1930), the dissident ethnic Hungarian politician from Transylvania, has written another letter – criticizing the public state of affairs in Rumania – to President Ceausescu. Semi-official agencies in Bucharest have just now forwarded the text of the letter to us. (See Appendix No. 2) As his writings reveal, Király is disturbed not only by the regular trespasses against human and nationality rights, but also by the flow of diversionary influence and propaganda which aims to set the masses of Rumanians against Hungarians and the neighboring peoples. In order to illustrate his point, he attached an anonymous letter which was mailed to him this year. (See Appendix No. 1.) This letter is a good reflection of the widespread inimical views which -- thanks to the official propaganda efforts -- are gaining greater acceptance among large number of Rumanians. Király sent as copy of his own letter, as well as a copy of the anonymous letter he received, to the country's former Premier, Ion Gheorghe Maurer, who was removed from office by Ceausescu. In his answer, Maurer acknowledges the receipt of the above and thanks Király for them (See Appendix No. 3.). APPENDIX 1 Anonymous Letter Sent to Király Károly, July 20, 1987 Comrade Director! I have been listening to your remarks concerning the situation of Transylvania's Hungarian minority, as broadcast by Radio Free Europe. I have several reasons for disagreeing with you: You [Hungarians] joined the [Communist] Party side by side with the Jews, who proved themselves to be smarter and quicker. -
Identity and Multiculturalism in the Romanian Banat
Méditerranée 110 (2008) Bulgarie-Roumanie ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ Remus Creţan, David Turnock et Jaco Woudstra Identity and multiculturalism in the Romanian Banat ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ Avertissement Le contenu de ce site relève de la législation française sur la propriété intellectuelle et est la propriété exclusive de l'éditeur. Les œuvres figurant sur ce site peuvent être consultées et reproduites sur un support papier ou numérique sous réserve qu'elles soient strictement réservées à un usage soit personnel, soit scientifique ou pédagogique excluant toute exploitation commerciale. La reproduction devra obligatoirement mentionner l'éditeur, le nom de la revue, l'auteur et la référence du document. Toute autre reproduction est interdite sauf accord préalable de l'éditeur, en dehors des cas prévus par la législation en vigueur en France. Revues.org est un portail de revues en sciences humaines et sociales développé par le Cléo, Centre pour l'édition électronique ouverte (CNRS, EHESS, UP, UAPV). ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................