Nationalism and Identity in Romania: A History of Extreme Politics from the Birth of the State to EU Accession

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

The collapse of communism in Central and Eastern Europe produced a fundamental change in the political map of Europe. In Romania, nationalism re-emerged forcefully and continued to rally political support against the context of a long and difficult transition to democracy. Extreme right-wing party The Greater Romania Party gained particular strength as a major political power, and its persuasive appeal rested on a reiteration of nationalism and identity - and themes such as origins, historical continuity, leadership, morality and religion - that had been embedded in Romanian ideological discourse by earlier nationalist formations. Radu Cinpoes here examines the reasons for the strength and resilience of nationalism in Romania, from the formation of the state to its accession in the EU.

Reviews

'Why has Romania's transition to democracy been so difficult A major reason is, this book argues, the re-emergence of a powerful nationalism in the early aftermath of the December 1989 events, and the consolidation of a nationalist discourse from then on, which contributed significantly to the way in which post-communist Romanian politics were to be framed. This study is an invaluable contribution to our understanding of the legacy of Ceausescu's national communism, offering a detailed examination of the most significant nationalist movement in post-1989 Romania, the Greater Romania Party, and explains how that party succeeded in monopolising the nationalist discourse in Romania.' - Dennis Deletant OBE, Professor of Romanian Studies, University College London; 'This is an excellent analysis of the emergence and the impact of extreme nationalism in Romanian politics in the post-communist era. Cinpoe offers a sophisticated theoretical framework for the analysis of Romanian nationalism, both historically and in terms of its contemporary potency and dynamics that can be readily applied to the study of similar phenomena in other post-communist or transition societies and provides a much needed sober assessment of the career of one of the most significant nationalist actors in post-1989 Romania, the Greater Romania Party - The book will be essential reading for researchers and students of contemporary Romania, political transitions, nationalism and the far Right. It also constitutes a valuable addition to the existing bibliography on post-communist politics.' - Spyros A. Sofos, Senior Research Fellow, Helen Bamber Centre for the Study of Conflict and Human Rights, Kingston University; Editor, Journal of Contemporary European Studies

Author Bio

Radu Cinpoes is Lecturer in Politics and Human Rights at Kingston University, where he obtained his PhD in 2006. He specialises in nationalism and identity politics.