Book Description
"Modern Romania makes a significant contribution to the political history of Romania and Central Europe, as well as to the literature on the dynamics of political and social change in the region. The book has special merit in identifying a number of factors that threaten the stability of democracy in Romania—the most insidious of these being endemic corruption which affects all aspects of society. Gallagher sounds a timely warning note about Romania's future."
—Dennis Deletant, author of Ceausescu and the Securitate: Coercion and Dissent in Romania
"Gallagher pulls no punches in taking the measure of the two postcommunist phases under Ion Iliescu, and even the 1996-2000 interim under putative reformers he judges a failure—not least because the reformers 'were in office, but not in power,' an insight that sadly may apply elsewhere. Gallagher thinks in neat, clear categories and writes with a style to match."
—Reviewed by Robert Legvold, Foreign Affairs, November/December 2005
Since the 1989 fall of Communism in Eastern Europe, Romania, arguably the most regimented of states in the Soviet bloc, has struggled with the transition from totalitarian state to democratic nation. In this insightful examination of modern Romania, Tom Gallagher provides an overview of Romania’s unique political and social history, focusing on both its national identity as well as the legacy of Soviet rule. Gallagher provides an in-depth look at Romania since 1989, focusing on the government’s attempts at economic reform, engagement with democracy, problems with corruption among the ruling elite, as well as the weakness of civil society and the resilience of implacable expressions of nationalism. Ultimately, Gallagher argues that thus far democracy has essentially failed in Romania. In fact, he warns that Romania is on its way to becoming one of the most unequal states in Europe and quite possibly a future trouble-spot unless efforts to resume much-needed reforms are undertaken.
--Ce texte fait référence à l'édition Relié .
