The Changing Romanian Countryside: The Ceauşescu Epoch and Prospects for Change following the Revolution

Abstract

Adjustment to the ending of state socialism in Eastern Europe will create many difficulties. In this paper the author addresses one particular issue: Rural planning objectives in Romania following the dramatic end to the quarter-century Ceauşescu epoch in December 1989. After referring to the ideological thrust of rural planning under socialism in general and Ceauşescu's leadership in particular the author concentrates on the radical demographic changes arising from the decline of employment in agriculture with only limited priority for the provision of alternative work in the countryside. Rural–urban migration has arguably been increased by discouragement of small-scale private enterprise in favour of large urban-based projects preferred by the central planning system. Following the revolution a swing towards privatisation should focus greater attention on the potentials of the rural areas, and the abandonment of Ceauşescu's draconian scheme of consolidation for rural settlement should encourage greater investment in outlying communities.