Religion and Politics in Post-Communist Romania (Religion and Global Politics) - Hardcover

Stan, Lavinia; Turcescu, Lucian

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0195308530 ISBN 13: 9780195308532

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2007

Synopsis

In the post-communist era it has become evident that the emerging democracies in Eastern Europe will be determined by many factors, only some of them political. Throughout the region, the Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Greek Catholic churches have tried to impose their views on democracy through direct political engagement. Moreover, surveys show that the churches (and the army) enjoy more popular confidence than elected political bodies such as parliaments. These results reflect widespread disenchantment with a democratization process that has allowed politicians to advance their own agendas rather than work to solve the urgent socio-economic problems these countries face. In this penetrating study, Lavinia Stan and Lucian Turcescu investigate the interaction of religion and politics in one such country, Romania. Facing internal challenges and external competitions from other religions old and new, the Orthodox Church in Romania has sought to consolidate its position and ensure Romania's version of democracy recognizes its privileged position of "national Church", enforcing the Church's stances on issues such as homosexuality and abortion. The post-communist state and political elite in turn rely on the Church for compliance with educational and cultural policies and to quell the insistent demands of the Hungarian minority for autonomy.
Stan and Turcescu examine the complex relationship between church and state in this new Romania, providing analysis in key areas: church collaboration with communist authorities, post-communist electoral politics, nationalism and ethno-politics, restitution of Greek Catholic property, religious education, and sexual behavior and reproduction. As the first scholars to be given access to confidential materials from the archives of the communist political police, the notorious Securitate, Stan and Turcescu also examine church archives, legislation, news reports, and interviews with politicians and church leaders. This study will move the debate from common analyses of nationalism in isolation to more comprehensive investigations which consider the impact of religious actors on a multitude of other issues relevant to the political and social life of the country.

About this title

Review:

This excellent book should be essential reading for students of Romanian history, post-Communist politics, church-state relations, nationalism and democratisation... The style of a book which would certainly interest non-specialists as well... A high degree of historical relativity. (Raul Carstocea, The English Historical Review.)

Lavinia Stan and Lucian Turescu's book analyzes the interplay of religious and political realms in post-communist Romania ... The book is a welcome contribution to the literature and a provocative read on the interplay between the two spheres. (Lucian N. Leustean, Politics and Religion)

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0195308530
• ISBN 13: 9780195308532
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 288