Political Data in 2007: Romania

Co-authored with Razvan Zaharia, European Journal of Political Research, vol. 47, no. 7 (December 2008), pp. 1087-1098

This article reviews political developments in Romania during 2007 - the two referenda, the country's first elections for the European Parliament, the changes in the composition of the government, and the main political themes that animated Bucharest.

Truth Commissions in Post-Communism: The Overlooked Solution?

published in Open Political Science Journal, vol. 2 (2009), pp. 1-13, available online at http://www.bentham.org/open/topolisj/openaccess2.htm (open access). ISSN: 1874-9496

Despite their increased popularity in Latin America, Africa and Asia, truth commissions have remained an overlooked solution to coming to terms with the recent human rights abuses perpetrated in communist Europe. Since the start of the democratization process in the early 1990s, only Germany, the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and Romania have employed truth commissions as methods to reckon with communist crimes. These five commissions share important similarities and differences in terms of their organizational structure, goals, activity, and efficacy. The scarcity of truth commissions in post-communist Europe is explained by the nature of communist repression, the legitimacy of the communist regime as a home-grown versus an externally-imposed political set of institutions and practices, and the use of lustration and access to secret files as methods to obtain truth, justice and reconciliation in posttotalitarian times.

Goulash Justice for Goulash Communism? Explaining Transitional Justice in Hungary

published in Studia politica, vol. 7, no. 2 (Summer 2007), pp. 269-292

Since 1989 some Eastern European countries have chosen to forgive and forget while others have opted to punish and prosecute the perpetrators of communist-era human rights abuses. Hungary is the only country that took the middle road, effecting limited transitional justice in the key areas of lustration, public access to secret political police archives, and court prosecution of former communist leaders and secret spies. As this article contends, the country was bound to resist efforts at radical de-communization due to its mild communist regime, its negotiated transition, and conciliatory, if unstable, post-communist politics. The article presents the organization and evolution of the Hungarian secret state security structures, the key transitional justice legislation, the political bargaining that shaped lustration and file access, and the way public scandals and uncontrolled release of sensitive information have rocked the Hungarian political life. Research was conducted with the generous support of the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Romania’s Intelligence Services. Bridge between the East and the West?

Co-authored with Rodica Milena Zaharia, Problems of Post-Communism, vol. 54, no. 1 (January 2007), pp. 3-18.

As a former host of thousands of university students from a score of Arab countries, post-communist Romania can tap into a pool of sympathetic Middle Eastern citizens. These privileged relations were put to good use after three Romanian journalists were kidnapped while on an assignment in Baghdad in early 2005. The Romanian secret intelligence services were able to successfully negotiate their release in a relatively short period of time.

The Vanishing Truth: Politics and Memory in Post-Communist Europe

published in East European Quarterly, vol. 40, no. 4 (December 2006), pp. 383-408.

In post-communist Eastern Europe, the "politics of memory" has been shaped by ten broad misconceptions. This article identifies, analyzes and illustrates each one of them in an effort to distinguish the way in which concrete experiences, perceptions, and stereotypes have shaped the process of coming to terms with the recent past in Eastern Europe. Research was conducted with the generous support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Political Data in 2006: Romania

Co-authored with Razvan Zaharia,  European Journal of Political Research, vol. 46, no. 7 (December 2007), pp. 1082-1095.

This was the first time Romania was included among the countries surveyed by the EJPR on an annual basis. The article presents an overview of Romanian post-communist politics, its political and electoral systems, the results of the 2004 presidential and parliamentary elections, and the main themes that animated the local political life.

Romania in 2008

Co-authored with Razvan Zaharia, European Journal of Political Research, accepted for publication, forthcoming in vol. 48, no. 7 (December 2009)

Politics, National Symbols and the Romanian Orthodox Cathedral

co-authored with Lucian Turcescu, published in Europe-Asia Studies, vol. 58, no. 7 (November 2006), pp. 1119-1139.

The building of the patriarchal cathedral in Bucharest, demanded by the dominant Romanian Orthodox Church, has been delayed by a host of political actors. This article examines the negotiations between successive Romanian governments, the Orthodox Church, ad-hoc civil society groups, and professional associations representing the architects, detailing the arguments raised by each side for or against the project. The article argues that interactions between state and non-state actors have determined the direction and pace of this process. Research was conducted with the generous support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Cited in Art Criticism and History.

Transition, Justice and Transitional Justice in Poland

published in Studia Politica, vol. 6, no. 2 (July 2006), pp. 257-284.

Observers have argued that the window of opportunity allowing for the adoption of transitional justice methods in Eastern Europe had closed by the mid-1990s, both because by then the public had lost interest in the topic and because former communist officials and secret political officers retained their political clout and were using it to block an honest reassessment of the recent past. However, it was only toward the end of the decade that Poland adopted lustration, opened secret archives and investigated a number of communist-era atrocities, proving that, if there is political will, justice delayed might not amount to justice denied. This article examines three methods post-communist Poland has employed in order to come to terms with the communist past – lustration, secret file access and court proceedings – and offers four different explanatory factors that, when taken together, can elucidate the country’s reluctance to pursue the politics of memory more resolutely. Research was conducted with the generous support of the SSHRCC.

The Roof over Our Head: Property Restitution in Romania

published in Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics, vol. 22, no. 2 (June 2006), pp. 180-205.

This is the first study to analyze the political dimensions of the restitution of property abusively confiscated by the communist authorities during the 1946-1989 period in Romania. This qualitative analysis draws on the tools of political science, legal studies and sociology. The constant refusal of the Romanian governments to settle the issue has prompted thousands of initial owners to petition the European Court of Human Rights. Research was conducted with the generous support of the SSHRCC.

The Politics of Memory in Poland: Lustration, File Access and Court Proceedings

published in Studies in Post-Communism Occasional Paper no. 10 (April 2006), 56 pages.

Poland's progress in effecting transitional justice is analyzed with the use of concrete examples in order to identify the factors that explain it. The article reviews the 1997 lustration law and its subsequent amendments; the activity of the IPN; and the main court trials launched against communist officials and secret agents for their involvement in the martial law, communist repression, the killing of Father Popieluszko and Home Army General Emil August Fieldorf. Research was conducted with the generous support of the SSHRCC.

Pulpits, Ballots and Party Cards: Religion and Elections in Romania

co-authored with Lucian Turcescu, published in Religion, State and Society, vol. 33, no 4 (December 2005), pp. 347-366.

After 1989, the Romanian Orthodox Church has had a growing involvement in party and electoral politics. The article examines the was the church used elections and party politics to further its goals, and the way politicians and political formations used religious symbols and actors in order to gain additional electoral capital. Over the years, the Orthodox Church has oscillated between political neutrality and political involvement, with some priests joining political parties to secure positions in Parliament, government, and the public administration. Research was conducted with the generous support of the SSHRCC. Cited in Studia Politica and Europe-Asia Studies.

The Devil’s Confessors: Priests, Communists, Spies and Informers

co-authored with Lucian Turcescu, published in East European Politics and Societies, vol. 19, no. 4 (November 2005), pp. 655-685.

In spite of its repeated denials, the Romanian Orthodox Church has collaborated closely with the communist authorities. So much so that individual priests and hierarchs acted as the eyes and ears of the notorious secret political police, the Securitate. The article examines the tainted past of Patriarch Teoctist Arapasu (who died in 2007 at the age of 92), and presents four different positions priests could take toward the communist regime. The article was among the 25th most read articles published in EEPS that month. Research was conducted with the generous support of the SSHRCC.

Religious Education in Romania

co-authored with Lucian Turcescu, published in Communist and Post-Communist Studies, vol. 38, no. 3 (September 2005), pp. 381-401.

Even before Parliament could legislate the introduction of religion in the public schools at the pre-university level, the Romanian Orthodox Church managed to prepare the pedagogical materials, to find the instructors, and to negotiate with school principals the introduction of religion classes. An examination of Orthodox religion textbooks at the primary and secondary level shows that the subject is not always taught in an ecumenical spirit conducive of tolerance and respect for other religious denominations. Research was conducted with the generous support of the SSHRCC. Cited in Europe-Asia Studies and by Liga Pro-Europa.

Lustration in Romania: The Story of a Failure

published in Studia Politica, vol. 6, no. 1 (2006), pp. 135-156.

Since 1989, lustration has figured prominently among the methods post-communist Eastern Europe used to deal with its recent past. While to date the literature has recognized that countries like the former Czechoslovakia, Germany, Albania and, more recently, Poland, have screened electoral candidates and / or members of the judiciary, the army and the police forces, in order to remove officials with a tainted past from post-communist politics, Romania has been dismissed as a country which consistently rejected lustration. However, calls for the removal of communist officials and secret political police agents were voiced soon after the Revolution of December 1989, and the measures they called for were more comprehensive both in terms of the social categories subjected to and the time period of the ban. This article is the first in-depth analysis to examine the lustration demands included in the Timisoara Declaration, explain the reasons why they received a cold shoulder from formations spanning the entire political spectrum, and map the negotiations between political parties and the civil society for the renewal of the political class. Romania missed the window of opportunity to legislate lustration because of such factors as its bloody exit from communism, the inability of pro-democratic opposition to wrestle power from the successor of the Communist Party, and its predominantly subject political culture.Research was conducted with the generous support of the SSHRCC. Cited in Ethnologie francaise.

From Riches to Rags: The Romanian National Christian Democrat Peasant Party

published in East European Quarterly, vol. 39, no. 2 (Summer 2005), pp. 179-227.

Just before the general elections organized in year 2000, the PNTCD was rocked by a series of scandals and internal conflicts from which it never recovered. Soon afterwards, the party was reduced to a shadow of its former self when a large number of its members migrated to other political formations or decided to renounce politics altogether. This article examines the internal squabbles in an effort to explain the party's demise. A lengthier, earlier version included a case-study of the Constanta local organization. Cited in Sfera politicii and the Journal of Theoretical Politics.

The Opposition Takes Charge: The Romanian General Elections of 2004

published in Problems of Post-Communism, vol. 52, no. 3 (May/June 2005), pp. 3-15

In Romania a coalition of opposition parties has formed a
government, but the new political team has to deal with a
weak economy and rampant corruption.

Inside the Securitate Archives

published in Cold War International History Project (Feb. 2005) (Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Washington, DC)

Lavinia Stan reviews the current state of scholarship on the Securitate and the state of former secret police's archives.

Spies, Files and Lies: Explaining the Failure of Access to Securitate Files

published in Communist and Post-Communist Studies, vol. 37, no. 3 (September 2004), pp. 341-359.

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.

Religion, Politics and Sexuality in Romania

co-authored with Lucian Turcescu, published in Europe-Asia Studies, vol. 57, no. 2 (March 2005), pp. 291-310.

Alegerile Parlamentare din 2008: Vin Vechi in Sticle Noi

In colaborare cu Diane Vancea, publicata in Sfera politicii, vol. 17, nos. 131-132 (March 2009), pp. 3-13

Zece mituri ale decomunizarii

published in Revista 22 (23-29 June and 30 June - 5 July 2006).

Transitional Justice

published in December 2008.

Educatia religioasa in Romania

in colaborare cu Lucian Turcescu, publicata in Altera (Tg. Mures: Liga Pro-Europa), vol. 13, no. 32 (2007), pp. 39-61.

Truth Commissions

published in October 2008

Politicians, Intellectuals and Academic Integrity in Romania

co-authored with Lucian Turcescu, published in Problems of Post-Communism, vol. 51, no. 4 (July/August 2004), pp. 12-24.

Academic standards are increasingly used to evaluate
the integrity of Romanian politicians.

Church-State Conflict in the Republic of Moldova: The Bessarabian Metropolitanate

co-authored with Lucian Turcescu, published in Communist and Post-Communist Studies, vol. 36, no. 4 (December 2003), pp. 443-465.

The article’s main focus is the relationship between the re-established Bessarabian Orthodox Metropolitanate and the government of the post-Soviet Republic of Moldova. The article demonstrates that the Moldovan government refused recognition to the nascent church until 2002 primarily for two reasons: first and foremost, the Moscow Patriarchate opposed the idea of another Orthodox Christian church in Moldova outside of its jurisdiction; second, the government feared that the newly independent Republic of Moldova would fall under the influence of neighboring Romania, whose Orthodox Church offered patronage to the Bessarabian Metropolitanate. After a historical overview of the Orthodox Church in the Republic of Moldova, the article first presents and analyzes the history of the conflict between the Bessarabian Metropolitanate and the post-Soviet Moldovan government, and second, the European Court of Human Rights verdict ordering the government to recognize the Metropolitanate, before verdict’s implementation, and reactions to it. All these are done with an eye on intra-national relations among Moldova, Romania, and Russia, as well as those between the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church in connection with this conflict.

Comparing Post-Communist Governance: A Case Study

published in Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics, vol. 18, no. 3 (2002), pp. 77-109.

Comparison of the social democrat regime that ruled Romania during the period 1992-96 and its successor, the Christian Democrat regime of 1996-2000, in terms of their decision-making efficiency and bureaucratic responsiveness reveals different levels of performance in terms of efficiency and responsiveness. Analysis of key central governmental institutions, using indicators ranging from cabinet stability and turnover of party members at the ministerial, deputy ministerial and prefect level to statistical information services and economic and foreign policy, suggests that both regimes failed to meet their electoral promises, but that the later regime did so to a greater extent than its predecessor.

The Romanian Anticorruption Bill

published in Studies in Post-Communism Occasional Paper no. 6 (January 2004), 66 pages.

Democratic Delusions: Ten Myths Accepted by the Romanian Democratic Opposition

published in Problems of Post-Communism, vol. 50, no. 6 (Nov/Dec. 2003), pp. 51-60.

Democratic opposition parties prefer to blame the government rather than admit their own mistakes.

The Romanian Orthodox Church and Post-Communist Democratization

co-authored with Lucian Turcescu, published in East European Perspectives, vol. 3, no. 4 (22 February 2001), and vol. 3, no. 5 (7 March 2001).

Access to Securitate Files: The Trials and Tribulations of a Romanian Law

published in East European Politics and Society, vol. 16, no. 1 (December 2002), pp. 55-90.

Moral Cleansing Romanian Style

published in Problems of Post-Communism, vol. 49, no. 4 (2002), pp. 52-62.

Romania’s secret police files are used more to fight current political battles than to expiate the sins of the communist regime.

The Romanian Orthodox Church and Post-Communist Democratization

co-authored with Lucian Turcescu, published in Europe-Asia Studies, vol. 52, no. 8 (2000), pp. 1467-1488

Romanian Political Science since 1989

published in European Journal of Political Science, vol. 35, no. 4 (June 1999), pp. 507-532.

In a relatively short period of time, Romanian political science has made considerable progress, moving from virtual obscurity to unchallenged local prominence. This article examines the efforts to date to institutionalize political science as a separate teaching and research discipline by presenting recently established political science university-level programs, the major groups of authors carrying out research on political phenomena and the recurrent themes emerging from relevant literature. Though the present article is concerned mainly with current developments, occasional references to the political science's position during the communist period are also made.

Semn de intrebare: Interviu cu Lavinia Stan

published in Sfera politicii, vol, 17, nr. 133 (March 2009), pp. 73-75

CNSAS – privire retrospective

published in Sfera politicii, no. 108 (April 2004), pp. 14-21.

The National Council for Studying the Security Archives (CNSAS) is celebrating four year since it’s been created. This is a perfect opportunity to evaluate its general activity. During these four years the Council has only identified one hundred former Security members though it had verified several thousand persons. This figure is totally irrelevant compared to the general estimation of the total amount of former Security officers and informers (between 400,000 and 700,000). The article is dealing with six main reasons explaining the institutional inefficiency of the Council, its incapacity to guarantee the citizens free access to their personal security files and its more efficient and clear capacity to disclose of a larger number of agents.

Zece mituri ale opozitiei democrate

published in Sfera politicii, no. 101 (June 2003), pp. 6-14.

Iliescu vs. Constantinescu: Comparind regimurile 1992-1996 si 1996-2000

published in Sfera politicii, no. 100 (2002), pp. 5-17.

The Unbearable Lightness of Being an East European Intellectual

published in Government and Opposition, vol. 35, no. 2 (Spring 2000), pp. 265-271.

Inainte de alegerile patriarhale – O analiza

In colaborare cu Lucian Turcescu, publicat in Adevarul Literar si Artistic (12 September 2007).

Religion, Parties and Elections in Post-Communist Romania

co-authored with Lucian Turcescu, published in Sfera politicii, nos. 123-124 (October 2006), pp. 15-22.

Comisia Tismaneanu intre adevar si reconciliere

publicata in Revista 22, nr. 886 (2-8 Martie 2007).

Modele de lustratie

published in Revista 22 (8-14 Septembrie 2006).

Lungul drum al lustratiei in Europa de Est

published in Sfera politicii, nos. 120-122 (June 2006).

The article represents an excerpt the results of a comparative study on lustration in Eastern Europe. It analyses the cases of Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Albania and Slovenia. The conclusion is that the eastern countries has taken different ways regarding to the concrete methods, and in some of the countries this process could not lead to a wipe of the communist party’s activists and secret police’s agents from the post-communism’s elite.

Gilceava inteleptilor cu standardele universitare

co-authored cu Lucian Turcescu, published in Revista 22 (26 May – 1 June 2006).

Definitii, dictionare

published in Sfera politicii, nos. 116-117 (June 2005), pp. 31-34.

Notes on Corrupt Post-Communist Privatization

published in Sfera politicii no. 112 (2004), pp. 39-45.

Living la Vida Loca in the Era of Globalization: Telenovelas and Post-Communist Transition

published in Sfera politicii, no. 105 (2003), pp. 50-54.

The Moldovan Update

published in East European Constitutional Review, vol. 11, no. 3 (Summer 2002).

The Moldovan Update

published in East European Constitutional Review, vol. 11, nos. 1-2 (Winter/Spring 2002).

The Moldovan Update

published in East European Constitutional Review, vol. 10, no. 4 (Fall 2001).

The Moldovan Update

published in East European Constitutional Review, vol. 10, nos. 2-3 (Spring-Summer 2001).

The Moldovan Update

published in East European Constitutional Review, vol. 10, no. 1 (Winter 2001).

The Moldovan Update

published in East European Constitutional Review, vol. 9, no. 4 (Fall 2000).

The Moldovan Update

published in East European Constitutional Review, vol. 9, no. 3 (Summer 2000).

The Moldovan Update

published in East European Constitutional Review, vol. 9, nos. 1-2 (Winter/Spring 2000).

The Moldovan Update

published in East European Constitutional Review, vol. 8, no. 4 (Fall 1999).

The Moldovan Update

published in East European Cconstitutional Review, vol. 8, no. 3 (Summer 1999).

The Moldovan Update

published in East European Constitutional Review, vol. 8, nos. 1-2 (Winter/Spring 1999).

Moldovan Update

published in East European Constitutional Review, vol. 7, no. 4 (Fall 1998), pp. 36-40

Moldovan Update

published in East European Constitutional Review, vol. 7, no. 3 (Summer 1998).

Moldovan Update

published in East European Constitutional Review, vol. 7, no. 2 (Spring 1998).

Moldovan Update

published in East European Constitutional Review, vol. 7, no. 1 (Winter 1998)

Moldovan Update

published in East European Constitutional Review, vol. 6, no. 4 (Fall 1997).

Moldovan Update

published in East European Constitutional Review, vol. 6, nos. 2-3 (Spring/Summer 1997).

Neither Forgiving, Nor Punishing?: Transitional Justice in Romania

in press, to be published in Transitional Justice and Democratic Consolidation: Lessons from Eastern Europe and Latin America, ed. by Vesselin Popovski (Tokyo: United Nations University Press, 2009).

Part of the first volume comparing Latin American and Eastern European transitional justice approaches. The project, which involves researchers from Nuffield College (Oxford University), El Colegio de Mexico and United Nations University in Tokyo, is coordinated by Vesselin Popovski. Generously financed by all three universities.

Romania: In the Shadow of the Past

in press, to be published in Central and Southeastern Europe since 1989, ed. by Sabrina P. Ramet (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, February 2010).

The chapter on Romania in an upcoming volume of Eastern European politics, on contract with Cambridge University Press.

Secularization or ‘Twin Tolerations’?: Redefining Church-State Relations in Post-Communism

co-authored with Lucian Turcescu, in press, to be published in Religion and Politics in Multicultural Europe, ed. by Alar Kilp (Tartu, Estonia: Tartu University Press, 2009).

The chapter on Romania in a forthcoming book on religion and politics in Europe.

Orthodoxy and Politics

co-authored with Lucian Turcescu, published in Quo Vadis Eastern Europe? Religion, State, Society and Inter-religious Dialogue after Communism, ed. by Ines Murzaku (Bologna, Italy: University of Bologna Press, 2009), 15 pages.

The chapter on Orthodoxy in a volume just published under the aegis of the reputed University of Bologna Press.

Church-State Relations and Secularism in Eastern Europe

published in Quo Vadis Eastern Europe? Religion, State, Society and Inter-religious Dialogue after Communism, ed. by Ines Murzaku (Bologna, Italy: University of Bologna Press, 2009).

The chapter on secularism in a recently-published volume.

National Report on Romania

prepared for the Directorate-General of Justice, Freedom and Security of the European Commission, 2009.

The National Report on Romania was commissioned as part of the “How the memory of crimes committed by totalitarian regimes is dealt with in the member states” project of the Directorate-General of Justice, Freedom and Security of the European Commission. It is a comprehensive view of post-communist Romania's efforts to come to terms with both its communist and Fascist pasts. Among the transitional justice methods discussed are: access to secret files, court trials and court proceedings, memorialization, apologies, rehabilitation, property restitution, truth commissions, symbolic reparations. The report argues that Romania has been a laggard in terms of transitional justice, and that, in spite of the progress registered to date, it has a long way to travel until reaching truth, justice and reconciliation.