"Ceausescuismn" and Civil-Military Relations in Romania

Abstract

This article discusses the relationship between the Romanian armed forces and the leadership of the Romanian Communist party. It suggests that this relationship has been complicated, and made more difficult, by Romania's pursuit of foreign policy autonomy from the Soviet Union. Ceausescu has relied more on direct political intervention and less on positive inducements to retain control of the armed forces than have his counterparts elsewhere in Eastern Europe. Romania's defense establishment, like other institutions in that country, has been reduced to a state of stagnation and cannot under present circumstances be expected to provide the basis for leadership alternative to that of the current Communist party elite.