Religion and Politics in Post-Communist Romania

Co-authored with Lucian Turcescu, New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2007.

Because these two authors have long given thought to the matter -- not least because they lived it, and at a price, when still in communist Romania -- they bring seasoned judgments and a rich analytic framework to the subject. --Richard Legvold, Foreign Affairs

In this thoroughly researched and persuasively argued book, Lavinia Stan and Lucian Turcescu chart the complicated route that Romanian religious institutions have taken from Communism through European integration. The authors show the impact, as well as the limits, of the Romanian Orthodox Church's involvement in politics, and they are particularly insightful on the tortuous relationship between the church and state authority, both in the Communist period and after. Covering such diverse themes as religious education, the church and elections, and ecclesiastical views of sexuality, this important book will be of interest to scholars of Romania, post-communist politics, and church-state relations in general. Charles King, Georgetown University

Lavinia Stan and Lucian Turcescu, in this path-breaking and incisive study, explain why the cultivation of ultranationalist sentiment and official support for the Orthodox Church went hand in hand under Communism, and why today democracy and pluralism are regarded by some leaders of the Orthodox Church as the principal enemy. They analyze the Orthodox Church's opposition to Romania's accession to the European Union and judiciously assess the challenges facing a church badly compromised by servility to the despot Ceausescu. Dennis Deletant, University College of London, author of Hitler's Forgotten Ally: Ion Antonescu and his Regime, Romania, 1940-1944

This is a masterful interpretation of the role of religion in influencing the development of modern Romania which is presented to the reader with clarity and analytical rigor. As well as sparkling comparative insights, the authors relate how religious claims and the reaction to them from the state and civil society are determining the extent to which Romania becomes a politically and socially free entity. The Orthodox Church is at the centre of the narrative and there are well-argued accounts of its relationship with nationalism, the communist past and the democratic present as Romania embraces capitalism and joins the European Union. Besides shedding light on a country whose direction is still shrouded in ambiguity, this is one of the most notable monographs to appear for quite a while on the role of religion in contemporary Europe. Tom Gallagher, University of Bradford

The book is a milestone, as there are very few political scientists - Sabrina P. Ramet being the most prominent - to have examined the interplay and the implications of church-state relations in the history and politics of East European countries...Stan and Turcescu offer sound theological reasons behind the Romanian-style established church model offering Romanian-style symphonia of church and state in the past...we are all in Professors Stan's and Turcescu's debt for offering such a refined, informative and elucidating study that makes the post-communist transformative period of Romania accessible to the English-speaking audience. Ines Murzaku, Journal of Church and State

Lavinia Stan and Lucian Turcescu have examined this question in detail in their book, and they are uniquely qualified to do so...Overall Stan and Turcescu present a remarkably objective assessment of the current discussion of these questions in Romania.  Even though they are Orthodox Christians, they do not hesitate to criticize their church when they feel it is appropriate, and they present the positions of other religious groups, notably the Catholic Church, objectively and fairly.  The book was published shortly before the death of Romanian Patriarch Teoctist, whose links with the former communist regime weakened his credibility in the eyes of many.  The election of Patriarch Daniel Ciobotea from the more progressive wing of the church will undoubtedly influence the future course of the debates so well discussed here. Ron Roberson, LOGOS

It is a great honor for me to introduce this exciting new book written by Lavinia Stan and Lucian Turcescu about the Romanian Orthodox Church and its politics. They bring a fresh perspective to the subject...where others have dwelled at length on the vast changes which followed the collapse of communism throughout the Central and East European area in the course of 1989-90, they look at both continuity and discontinuity of the principles and institutions in religious policy and in the religious sphere over time...Stan and Turcescu allow us, as it were, to look behind closed doors. Indeed, they are uniquely qualified to write this book. Sabrina P. Ramet, "Foreword"

More reviews are available at:
http://www.georgefox.edu/academics/undergrad/departments/soc-swk/ree/Book%20Reviews_Nov%202008.pdf

Transitional Justice in Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union: Reckoning with the Communist Past

Editor, London: Routledge, 2009.

"Transitional justice" is a phrase that embraces a wide variety of practices in new democracies, some of them more transitional than others, some not always entirely just. This thorough comparative assessment of the experience so far in all the countries of the former Soviet bloc examines the "non-cases" as well as the more exemplary processes, and it takes into account not only policy intentions but actual difference in implementation (right up to the point when most of the countries in question joined the European Union). What emerges is a quite variegated picture, with pre-transition historical experiences and the specific correlation of forces between communist rulers and opposition challengers providing much of the explanation for the observed divergences. This is an important contribution to post-communist studies and to the comparative analysis of democratization in general. Experience from elsewhere suggests that unresolved conflicts in this area can continue to fester and may impede the stabilization of the democratic system despite generational change. Laurence Whitehead, Oxford University

Coming to terms with unpleasant historical episodes is never easy for any society. The process has been especially difficult in the former Communist countries, most of which have failed to hold anyone accountable for the atrocious crimes of the Communist era. In some states, especially Russia, Belarus, and the Central Asian republics, officials who spearheaded the repression of dissidents during the Soviet era are back in high posts.  In Central and Southeastern Europe, too, efforts to seek redress for the crimes perpetrated by Communist regimes have often been deeply flawed. The many obstacles to a full and fair reckoning with the Communist past are thoughtfully analyzed in this valuable collection of essays by distinguished experts. Lavinia Stan, the editor and lead author of the book, has assembled an excellent group of contributors. The comprehensive scope of the volume makes it a true comparative work. This book provides the most thorough and analytically sophisticated treatment yet available of this crucial topic. Mark Kramer, Director, Cold War Studies Program, Harvard University

The question how countries deal with a difficult past is always intriguing but particularly so when several countries concurrently address the issue and the policies and the policy outcomes show significant variance. Such is the scenario in the former communist bloc in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. The in-depth country studies in this book provide the reader with up-to-date information and sound analysis while the analytical framework locates them in the broader body of literature and offers insightful cross-national comparisons. Timely and thought-provoking, this book is indispensable reading for scholars of transitional justice and democratization. Helga A. Welsh, Wake Forest University

An outstanding, brilliant book that helps us to understand developments in post-1989 Eastern Europe. Lustration, the opening of secret police files and trials of communist perpetrators have marked political and intellectual debates in these new democracies, and constituted pivotal efforts to come to terms with the legacy of the communist dictatorship. The volume examines in detail the region’s efforts to reckon with the recent past, and the theoretical explanations for country differences in the scope and pace of transitional justice. A “must read” not only for Eastern Europeans, but also for students of transition to democracy in other parts of the world and other historical periods. Pawel Machcewicz, Institute of Political Studies, Polish Academy of Science

In this pioneering new work, Lavinia Stan and her contributors have produced a theoretically coherent and empirically well-documented book that will be required reading in the field of post-communist transition in East-Central Europe and the Former Soviet Union. Rooted in an impressive understanding of transitional justice processes in the region, Stan’s volume provides concise narrative about changes that occurred after the access to the communist secret files was partially granted to the citizens of former communist countries. This book will be appreciated by laymen and experts alike. Reneo Lukic, Laval University, Canada

Why do some countries reckon with past repression by opening up the files of secret police, barring from office participants in the repressive regime, and prosecuting human rights abuses, while others, with similar abuses, do little to face their past? Tracing developments from 1989 to 2007, Transitional Justice in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union provides fascinating, detailed case studies and a persuasive argument linking contrasting responses to past and present political alignments and to degrees of prior experiences with democracy and political pluralism. This will be a vital resource for understanding when and where transitional justice is pursued. Martha Minow, Harvard Law School, and author of Between Vengeance and Forgiveness

It is relatively rare in comparative social research that scholars conclusively demonstrate that they are both detail oriented and theoretically creative. The editor of this volume exemplifies both these qualities, identifying the specific provisions of lustration and de-communization laws across many post-communist countries, then evaluating disparate theories of transitional justice and advancing an innovative multivariate model. With an impressive cast of contributors, we now have the seminal work on East European de-communization. Raymond Taras, Tulane University

This book offers a first comparative and comprehensive exploration of the dynamics of de-communization in East-Central Europe and the former USSR. The case studies provide excellent opportunities to engage in historical comparative discussions about the determinants of the speed, scope, magnitude, depth, and effectiveness of various de-communization strategies. Taking a relatively long historical perspective (1989-91 to 2007) the book explains why certain countries have been more successful than others in addressing issues related to what Germans call Geschichtsbewaltigung...The authors avoid any one-dimensional, mono-causal explanation of the tribulations of de-communization in the countries they deal with. It is the merit of this path-breaking volume that it does justice to the complexities of political justice...Superbly documented, carefully researched, and conceptually original, this book contributes significantly to our understanding of how to overcome the post-communist ethical morass and foster an honest democratic community. Vladimir Tismaneanu, University of Maryland, "Foreword"

1989-2009: Incredibila aventura a democratiei dupa comunism

Co-edited with Lucian Turcescu, in press. (In Romanian).

A collection of mini-interviews carried out by Stan and Turcescu with the overwhelming majority of Western researchers working on Romania, including Johanna Birnir, Daniel Chirot, Frank Cibulka, Monica Ciobanu, William E. Crowther, Jean-Michel de Waele, Dennis Deletant, Adam Drazin, Stephen Fischer-Galati, Radu Florescu, Tom Gallagher, Trond Gilberg, Peter Gross, Monica Heintz, Radu Ioanid, Padraic Kenney, David Kideckel, Charles King, Ronald F. King, Bogumil Koss Jewsiewicki , Ladis Kristof, Heino Nyyssonen, David Phinnemore, Russ Pittman, Martyn Rady, Sabrina P. Ramet, Violette Rey, Steven Sampson, Michael Shafir, Peter Siani-Davies, Ingmar Söhrman, Sabina Stan, Paul E. Sum, Raymond Taras, Vladimir Tismăneanu, Francisco Veiga, Adrian Velicu, Katherine Verdery, Peter Wagner. A unique contribution of the importance of the 1989 events in the future of Romania and Eastern Europe.

The Encyclopedia of Transitional Justice

Co-edited with Nadya Nedelsky, on contract with Cambridge University Press.

A two-volume encyclopedia, the first of its kind, including more than 300 entries on methods, debates, processes and concepts of transitional justice and country studies.

Leaders and Laggards: Governance, Civicness and Ethnicity in Post-Communist Romania

Boulder, CO: Columbia University Press, East European Monographs, 2003

Table of Contents

Introduction
2. The development of local governmental institutions in Romania
3. Leaders and laggards: a comparison of institutional performance
4. Explaining institutional performance: social capital - an overview
5. A country-level socio-structural comparison
6. Is Transylvania ore civic? testing regional socio-structural differences
7. Institutional performance, social capital and ethnic conflict
8. Conclusion

Religie si politica in Romania postcomunista

Cu Lucian Turcescu, va aparea in curand.

O traducere in romana a volumului aparut in 2007 la Oxford University Press.

Prezentul trecutului recent: Decomunizare in postcomunism

va apare in curand.

O traducere in limba romana a volumului aparut in 2009 la Routledge.

Romania in Transition

Editor, Aldershot, UK: Dartmouth Press, 1997

"Romania curiously does not garner much attention in the academic literature on Eastern Europe. To some extent, this is not surprising given the war in neighboring Yugoslavia, Albania's ongoing civil unrest, and the debate over NATO expansion in view of the great strides taken by Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic toward democracy and a free market. At the same time, however, it is also unfortunate since Western opinion of Romania is consequently often guided by misperceptions and lack of knowledge - usually to the detriment of this Balkan country. Lavinia Stan, a promising young scholar, has compiled works by American, Romanian, British and Spanish scholars to address some of these inadequacies by specifically concentrating on political and economic aspects of Romanian transition.... The volume is presented in a clear style and presents adequate background information and discussion that will be of particular use to students. It is a welcome addition to the literature on Romania." Victor N. Constantinescu, McGill University, Canada

Etienne de la Boetie, De la Servitude Voluntaire

Traducere de Lavinia Stan si Sabina Stan, Bucuresti: Editura Universal Dalsi, 1994.

Carl Schmidt, Political Theology

Traducere si postfata de Lavinia Stan and Lucian Turcescu, Bucuresti: Editura Universal Dalsi, 1995.