From Riches to Rags: The Romanian Christian Democrat Peasant Party
In: East European quarterly, Band 39, Heft 2, S. 179-227
ISSN: 0012-8449
In: East European quarterly, Band 39, Heft 2, S. 179-227
ISSN: 0012-8449
In: Problems of post-communism, Band 52, Heft 3, S. 3-15
ISSN: 1075-8216
The result of the Romanian parliamentary & presidential elections of November, 2004 was that the pro-democratic opposition won the presidency, formed the government, & presided over a peaceful transfer of power. This article discusses the elections, & the context within which they took place, in detail. The major political parties are identified & discussed, beginning with the Social Democrats, whose incumbent presidential candidate suffered a surprising loss in the elections. Next, the major presidential candidates are discussed in turn. The results of the presidential elections, including the runoff between the final two candidates, are discussed next. The parliamentary elections are also discussed; this section also considers the developments of the months leading up to those elections. The final section considers several pitfalls that the new governing coalition must avoid to remain united long enough to translate its campaign promises into practice. 3 Tables. T. K. Brown
In: Problems of post-communism, Band 52, Heft 3, S. 3-15
ISSN: 1557-783X
In: Europe Asia studies, Band 57, Heft 2, S. 291-310
ISSN: 1465-3427
In: East European politics and societies: EEPS, Band 19, Heft 4, S. 655-685
ISSN: 1533-8371
The article charts the efforts of the Romanian Orthodox Church, the country's largest religious denomination, to block the public exposure of the names of priests and prelates who collaborated with the dreaded communist secret political police, the Securitate, by informing on other priests, disclosing information obtained from believers during confession or supporting communist antireligious policies. The article identifies four types of attitudes toward the Securitate of members of the Romanian Orthodox clergy, presents the arguments in favor of and against the public exposure of tainted priests, examines the recent revelations regarding the controversial past of Patriarch Teoctist, and investigates the Church's efforts to impose amendments to the Romanian transitional justice legislation that would exempt priests from being investigated by the National Council for the Study of Securitate Archive.
In: Communist and post-communist studies: an international interdisciplinary journal, Band 38, Heft 3, S. 381-401
ISSN: 0967-067X
World Affairs Online
In: East European politics and societies and cultures: EEPS, Band 19, Heft 4, S. 655-685
ISSN: 0888-3254
World Affairs Online
In: Europe Asia studies, Band 57, Heft 2, S. 291-310
ISSN: 0966-8136
World Affairs Online
In: Communist and post-communist studies, Band 38, Heft 3, S. 381-401
ISSN: 0967-067X
This article provides an overview of the Romanian post-communist legislation on religious education in public schools, examined against the background of the 1991 Constitution and international provisions protecting freedom of conscience, critically assesses the pre-university textbooks used in Orthodox and Roman Catholic religion courses, and discusses the churches attempts to ban evolutionary theory from schools and the efforts of the Orthodox Church to introduce religious symbols in public universities.
In: Communist and post-communist studies, Band 37, Heft 3, S. 341-359
ISSN: 0967-067X
Transitional justice in post-communist Romania has made little progress since the Council for the Study of Securitate Archives was set up in early 2000. This article discusses several factors that might explain the failure of giving citizens access to the files compiled by the communist-era secret political police and of publicly identifying the former political police agents and informers.
In: Communist and post-communist studies: an international interdisciplinary journal, Band 37, Heft 3, S. 341-360
ISSN: 0967-067X
In: Problems of post-communism, Band 51, Heft 4, S. 12-24
ISSN: 1075-8216
Examines the relationship between Romanian academic standards & political corruption, focusing on recent, highly publicized cases of plagiarism & copyright violations. In a state where integrity carries little currency & the political culture lauds plagiarists, questions about research ethics, copyright laws, & penalties for violations inevitably arise. The history of academic dishonesty in Romania is outlined, with particular attention to the problem of plagiarism during & after the communist period. The conclusion proposes some possible solutions to the problem, including increasing state funding for education, giving research priority over teaching for the professoriate, establishing double-blind peer review, & cracking down on resume packing by public officials & bureaucrats. 2 photographs. K. Coddon
In: Problems of post-communism, Band 51, Heft 4, S. 12-24
ISSN: 1557-783X
In: East European monographs 615
World Affairs Online
In: Problems of post-communism, Band 50, Heft 6, S. 51-60
ISSN: 1075-8216
Explains the failure of the Romanian democratic opposition to become a credible alternative to the National Salvation Front & to introduce democratic reforms as partially due to mental constructs, assumptions, & presumptions that have undermined the ability of the democratic forces to bring change. This article shares ten myths held by the Romanian people & opposition politicians: (1) The leader is the party. (2) Party organization is unnecessary. (3) Strong parties are run from the top. (4) Alliances between parties are necessary for political survival. (5) Political success is about gaining offices. (6) The Social Democrats are the enemy. (7) The other democratic parties are doing better than the Social Democrats. (8) Self-criticism is harmful. (9) Image is everything. (10) The parties know what the people need. Each myth is discussed & analyzed. Opposition parties in Romania do have some strength, & with thorough analysis & strategies, they could accomplish some worthwhile changes in the 2004 elections. 1 Table. L. A. Hoffman