The Political Economy of Romanian Socialism

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Crowther has produced an able overview of Romania, encompassing political and socioeconomic history as well as contemporary domestic and international circumstances of the Nicolae Ceausescu regime. Choice This volume focuses on post-World War II Romania as a case study in state socialist politics. Crowther skillfully describes the consolidation of power following the inception of communist rule. He asserts that the current Romanian regime--and those of the other state socialist countries--can best be understood when viewed as integral elements in coherent political economies. Crowther analyzes developed national communism, placing contemporary Romania in the context of the international environment and exploring the impact of external factors on the domestic political system. Finally, he discusses the implications of the Romanian example for the study of state socialist political systems in general.

Reviews

Crowther has produced an able overview of Romania, encompassing political and socioeconomic history as well as contemporary domestic and international circumstances of the Nicolae Ceausescu regime. Because this was Crowther's PhD dissertation, it includes a literature review, methodological discussions, and historical background. Methodologically, Crowther suggests that he seeks to understand the Romanian regime by integrating a political economy' perspective with social history, but this approach is never very clear. His obligatory historical chapters rely on works by Hugh Seton-Watson, Stephen Fischer-Galati, and others, but add no new insight. In later chapters Crowther presents interesting data collected by Romanian social scientists. His lack of opportunities for field research is reflected in his work and limits the book's value as a case study of the evolution of state socialist systems.' Many relavant works are not cited. Critical omissions include John Lampe and Marvin Jackson's Balkan Economic History, 1550-1950, and many works by German and American specialists. References are misattributed (e.g., Paul Shoup receives credit for an article by Daniel N. Nelson) and some typographical errors remain. For graduate students and faculty.-Choice
"Crowther has produced an able overview of Romania, encompassing political and socioeconomic history as well as contemporary domestic and international circumstances of the Nicolae Ceausescu regime. Because this was Crowther's PhD dissertation, it includes a literature review, methodological discussions, and historical background. Methodologically, Crowther suggests that he seeks to understand the Romanian regime by integrating a political economy' perspective with social history, but this approach is never very clear. His obligatory historical chapters rely on works by Hugh Seton-Watson, Stephen Fischer-Galati, and others, but add no new insight. In later chapters Crowther presents interesting data collected by Romanian social scientists. His lack of opportunities for field research is reflected in his work and limits the book's value as a case study of the evolution of state socialist systems.' Many relavant works are not cited. Critical omissions include John Lampe and Marvin Jackson's Balkan Economic History, 1550-1950, and many works by German and American specialists. References are misattributed (e.g., Paul Shoup receives credit for an article by Daniel N. Nelson) and some typographical errors remain. For graduate students and faculty."-Choice

Author Bio

WILLIAM E. CROWTHER is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.