The Patrimonialization of the Communist Past in Romania: Laws, Memorials, and Monuments

Abstract

The patrimonialization of the communist past in post-communist Romania is a twofold phenomenon: one the one hand, communism was demonized while its victims celebrated as martyrs, and, on the other, it was thrown away to the dustbin of history without comments. The last approach, promoted by neo-communists, was meant to hide the responsibility of theirs ancestors in perpetrating victimhood upon the Romanian nation. What were theirs strategies and concrete actions in achieving the wanted results are the main concerns of my article. It investigates how monuments, memorials and museums were instrumental in forging a politicized/ideological suitable image of the communist past. Furthermore, the laws, institutions, commemorative practices and rituals are analyzed in order to see what was at stake in creating them and who were the promoters of the narratives which lead to such creations.