Re-Writing the History of Romania after the Fall of Communism

Abstract

National history is constitutive to a state and to its political community, as it represents an essential tool in building loyalty and national sentiments in its citizens. For the communist states, the control over history writing and historiography was essential in imposing and preserving power. The article scrutinizes the changes in history writing and historiography in post‐communist Romania, focusing on the institutional changes within the field of history and the dynamics of its relation with the field of politics, and gives an outline of the state of the field. It discusses the most important new topics and approaches that have been taken up by Romanian historians, indicating their main points of contention.

Changing Patterns of Nation‐Building: Educational Reform Narratives in Post‐Socialist Romania

“…This scandal is symptomatic of the nationalizing trend arising in the aftermath of the totalitarian regime, which was considered as a scar on the 'national body'. See Culic (2005), Murgescu (2004), Pavel (2000), and Pârâianu (2001) for details on the unfolding of the scandal and its connection with de-nationalizing historiographic trends. 6 These values were in fact consonant with educational ideologies promoted at the international level, most notably by UNESCO, even before 1989.…”

“…This scandal is symptomatic of the nationalizing trend arising in the aftermath of the totalitarian regime, which was considered as a scar on the ‘national body’. See Culic (), Murgescu (), Pavel (), and Pârâianu () for details on the unfolding of the scandal and its connection with de‐nationalizing historiographic trends.…”

The Romanian white-collar immigrants in Brussels: a transnational community under construction

“…We cannot talk about large-scale international migration from Romania before the fall of communism, given that citizens did not have the right to hold a permanent passport and those who received permission from the Communist Party to travel abroad were closely monitored and had to give up to their temporary passport when returning to the country. Very few dissidents managed to obtain political asylum, while most of those who tried to flee communist Romania were imprisoned or killed (Culic, 2005).…”

Europe, East and West

“…10 Published by an institution with close ties to the state, its authors claim that it 'fulfils history's mission of connecting elements among the citizens of Romania'. 10 Published by an institution with close ties to the state, its authors claim that it 'fulfils history's mission of connecting elements among the citizens of Romania'.…”