A TRANSNATIONAL APPROACH TO ANTI-CORRUPTION IN SOCIALIST ROMANIA (1971-1989)
Études balkaniques (Sofia) 2024, N 4, DOI: https://doi.org/10.62761/645.EB.LX4.06
Alexandra OPREA
University of Bucharest, Romania
LIER-FYT (EHESS Paris), France
Abstract: This paper offers a nuanced analysis of the clash between Western criticisms of corruption in Ceaușescu’s Romania and the counter-narratives promoted by the communist state. It explores how the Romanian state justified the presence of corruption in a society that claimed to be egalitarian and the specific legal and propagandistic language used to address these issues. The study begins by examining how international media portrayed “corrupt practices” as evidence of the socialist model’s failure, arguing that it institutionalized rather than eliminated privilege. It then contrasts this Western perspective with the response crafted by communist propaganda. The paper argues that the Romanian authorities created a counter-narrative to demonstrate their commitment to addressing corruption, thereby reinforcing the legitimacy of socialist property and justifying the economic and social crises. By adopting a transnational approach, the study transcends national paradigms, demonstrating that communist regimes were significantly influenced by East-West relations rather than operating in isolation.
Keywords: socialist Romania, corruption, transnational approach, discourse analysis