Monday, May 30, 2016

Video: "Romania: The Spectre of Tyranny."



The documentary dates from 2012, and seeks to explain totalitarianism's lingering hangover in Romania.

"According to a recent survey, 70% of Romanians believe that wealth comes from illegal means. 17% believe that in order to achieve prosperity, you must have personal contacts and recommendations. This  means 87% believe the wealth generated in Romania only comes from dishonest methods. This reflects the distrust the Romanians have for their own progress."

The critique is  unsparing, and the conclusion unsurprising: Once the over-40s have gone, a functional civil society may be possible -- assuming the under-40s haven't all moved away.

Romania's 50-year dictatorship caused social problems, poverty, and political and economic instability. A young Romanian journalist uncovers the continuing legacy of Nicolae Ceausescu's tyranny that still casts an enduring influence over people's lives today.

Ironically, also the goal of the local Democratic Party.

No comments: