Romania since the Second World War: A Political, Social and Economic History

(Hardback)

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Romania since the Second World War offers a political, social and economic history of Romania from 1945 to the present day. It is the first book designed for students to chart the progress of the nation under the communist regime as well as the transition period that followed, providing detailed analysis of the aspects of continuity and change that can be identified over the period as a whole. The first part of the book looks at the communist regime in depth. It examines how communism took hold and how the elimination of traditional elites took place before discussing the impact of Gheorghiu-Dej and Nicolae Ceausescu, the two most important leaders of the communist era. A further chapter will also be given to the main economic and social changes that took place under the rule of communism. The second part of the book goes on to explore the transition period that followed the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of communism in 1989, with special attention being given to international relations and Romania's drive for inclusion in NATO and the EU. Romania since the Second World War goes on to assess socio-demographic trends across the postwar period using a range of data before concluding with some final thoughts on the nation's development during this time. The book also includes useful biographical boxes for key figures in Romania's recent history, an extensive bibliography and further reading lists throughout. This is an essential text for those interested in the modern history of Eastern Europe.

Reviews

Overall, the book is a well-researched and informative history of post-Second World War Romania. Its perceptive thematic structure makes it an excellent introduction especially for students of Romanian history ... Abraham succeeded in creating an insightful and accessible narrative that not only describes what happened in the past, but also how these past experiences have left their mark on contemporary Romania. * European Review of History *

Author Bio

Florin Abraham is Senior Researcher at the National Institute for the Study of Totalitarianism at The Romanian Academy.