Interest In Romania Research Articles

A Complicate Aspect of Cultural Diplomacy. The Reopening of British Council in Romania

The paper explores the dynamic of cultural relations between Romania and the United Kingdom during the years of détente. It contributes to the exploration of soft power policies across the Iron Curtain by focusing on the activities of the British Council in Bucharest. In the spirit of détente, its representatives sought to bridge the ideological gap between the two states by gathering information about Romania and by providing Romanian citizens with a heavily curated showcase of the United Kingdom. At the beginning of the Cold War, the connections between Romania and the United Kingdom were frozen, limited only to diplomatic representation. By the second half of the 1960s, the situation changed significantly, as British interest in Romania increased rapidly. This shift must be seen as part of the redefinition of UK foreign policy, which adapted to the specificities of individual countries in Central and South-eastern Europe. My contribution shows that the study of cultural diplomacy beyond the East-West divide reveals the resilience of contacts and dialogue despite the vagaries of bilateral politics during the Cold War.

Anatomical landmarks – reference for artificial eyes used in taxidermy for species of birds of hunting interest in Romania

Considering the fact that in the specialized literature the data regarding the comparative morphology of the eyeball in birds are summary, being only details regarding the general structure, size and color, for a limited number of species, we considered it necessary to make a complex table, which includes all the anatomical elements from the level of the eye, especially those integrated to the artistic anatomy, a field of great importance for professional taxidermists. Following a laborious study, carried out on different reference materials, we managed to draw up this original table, which is intended to be a useful tool for the correct and easy choice of artificial eyes used in professional taxidermy. Based on this table, top manufacturers can be ordered to manufacture complex artificial eyes that present all the anatomical elements characteristic of a certain bird species.

Growth Characteristics of Dracocephalum moldavica L. in Relation to Density for Sustainable Cropping Technology Development

Medicinal and aromatic plants hold a high share of interest in Romania. To offset the harvesting of spontaneous flora and ensure the sustainable conservation of natural resources, the cropping of highly valuable plants of interest represents a priority for the current agricultural system. This study was conducted due to the need for more balance in species exploitation. Therefore, it assessed the emergence dynamics, leaf appearance, growth and development of the plants depending on row spacing and plant distance. The research was conducted at the INCDCSZ Brașov, within the Technology Department, Laboratory of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. The density of planting is the most important factor. Plants sown in continuous rows showed the highest yields of fresh and dry herbs, especially when the distance between the rows was set to 25 cm. Row-by-row distances of 50 cm ensure average values for all growth and development parameters. An increase in the row-by-row distance up to 70 cm drastically reduced the dry biomass up to 7.89 t ha−1 in continuous rows, followed by a 2 and 2.5 t ha−1 decrease for 15 cm and 25 cm plant-by-plant distances, respectively. Continuous row planting and a 25 cm row-by-row distance negligibly reduce the climate impact on growth and development. Greater spaces between plants leads to an average increase in individual development, but with a decrease in the total potential yield.

Cântecul Gintei Latine: Vasile Alecsandri, ‘race’ connections and the Latinity of the Romanians (1850s–1870s)

AbstractThis article reconstructs Vasile Alecsandri's political and cultural activities at an international level, as he attempted to raise public awareness (particularly in France and Italy) for the Romanian national cause, namely, by staking claim to the ‘Latinity’ of Romanians. It takes account of the European historical and political context in which the process took place, against the cultural backdrop of a growing interest in Romania, its people and language, and the development of the pan‐Latin ideal (and of macro‐nationalisms in general). In 1878, Alecsandri participated in the Fêtes Latines in Montpellier, competing for the best ‘Song of the Latin race’, illustrating his ability to use all available communication channels to further the Romanian Latin cause and bolster pan‐Latinism.

From a Communist Heritage to an Unwanted Past: The Case of Romania

Communist ideologies and political regimes have had their specific models of tourism. These models reflect on the way former communist countries view tourism today. Despite the long communist period, Romania refuses to accept Communism as an integral part of its historical culture and society, being perceived as a dark period of its history. Several campaigns which were broadcasted as a way to show the cultural and natural beauty of the country, promote rural tourism and the ancient Romanian History, eluding themes and subjects related with that recent past. Even though there has been a growing touristic interest in Romania’s communist heritage, the country’s strategies express the difficulty in accepting Communism as part of the Romanian cultural identity and history. Thus, what communication strategies does Romania use to promote its culture, in order to avoid its communist heritage? What are the reasons behind the country’s vehement silence about its past? This article aims to discuss how and why the country and its population promote specific tourist products as a way to avoid their communist legacy.

Perspectives of Circular Economy in Romanian Space

The circular economy (CE) is a popular concept in the European Union (EU) space, which has been the subject of numerous research and substantiation activities. In the last years, there has been a growing interest in Romania regarding the characteristics of this new economic model and the principles on which it works. Referring to Romanian specialized literature currently available regarding the submitted topic, we consider that the theoretical part is insufficiently structured. In addition, by pointing out the applicability of the circular economy in Romanian space, we consider this to be represented mainly by the fragility of its effective and practical implementation. The examples of Romanian successes in the field of circular economy are limited, a fact that can be explained—from our perspective—through the aspect that in other EU countries, the process of development of CE has some precedents, a stronger background and a ”self-constructed” history in the topic. There is undoubtedly a necessity for adopting this new economic model, considering that, for the most part, Romanian economy is still dependent on the linear economic system. Starting from these arguments, the proposed article uses a thematic debate of the notion of circular economy, presenting, at the beginning, an incursion into the predominantly European variety of theoretical approaches. The selection of definitions and conceptualization is continued with an analysis of the stage of implementation of CE in Romania. The purpose of this approach is to investigate a niche identified in the Romanian space, not covered in the specialized scientific research and to expose the specificity of the process of transition of Romania to a circular economy, of the barriers encountered—namely, the problem related to the attitude and mentality regarding this new concept. We also point out that the intention of the study is to integrate a ”different” contemporary and very current economic concept into a real economy, and at the same time, to increase the visibility of its application at the level of a member country of the EU. The challenges encountered in the context of the increasingly present tendency in Romania of assimilating and complying with the precepts of the circular economy are also detailed, proposing, at the end of the study suggestions for improving the gaps identified at this level. The most realistic implementation of the circular model in Romania represents a qualitative plus for the human-society factor, as well as for the environment. In conclusion, we note that, despite the evolution of the number of theoretical approaches and concerns, the field of circular economy and the perspectives it proposes, continues to offer a favorable ground for further research.

The German Invasion of Norway, April-June 1940: Romanian Echoes

We can all agree that World War II, beyond its military, political or economic coordinates, countless tragedies, convulsions propagated around the world, tensions and dramas often felt to our day, was for all of us a lesson of geography. From this perspective, the invasion of Poland in September 1939 by the German and Soviet troops was a first lesson, continued on another level by the Soviet-Finnish Winter War. The invasion of Norway (and Denmark) by the Germans in April 1940, followed by the allied reaction and the transformation of the Scandinavian states into a theatre of military operations, was monitored with distinct interest in Romania, at political, diplomatic and military level, but also at the level of general perception of a society that was both worried and avid, in the context of the European (for the time being) war, of information on the evolution of the conflict and not only. Names such as Oslo, Narvik, Trondheim, Åndalsnes, Namsos, Bergen, Lillehammer, Stavanger or Tromsø become familiar to the Romanian public. We find, especially in the Romanian media of the time, a luxurious abundance of accounts, commentaries, editorials, telegrams or interviews related to the conduct of military operations in northern Europe, beyond the censorship and restrictions imposed by the conditions of the war. From this perspective, we find it difficult to attempt even to pursue the conflict in Norway in April-May 1940 only in the light of articles in the Romanian press. Central newspapers, in the first place, abound with telegrams that alternately feature views, news, and information from both camps. Inevitably there were various denials, rumors, or what we call today “fake news”, often taken over by the sensational rush, even by big press agencies of the time, without mentioning newspapers in European capitals including Bucharest. For this reason, our objective is to identify and analyze some of the Romanian echoes generated by the invasion of Norway, both in the Romanian media, but also at a diplomatic or military level, in a context in which Romania, as a neutral state, lived its own tensions and worries about its future fate as the war spread across the old continent.

From Woods and Water to the Gran Bazaar: Images of Romania in English Travelogues after WWI

Abstract Although globalization brings different countries and cultures in closer and closer contact, people are still sensitive when it comes to aspects such as cultural specificity or ethnicity. The collapse of communism and the extension of the European Union have determined an increase of interest in Romania’s image, both on the part of foreigners and of Romanians themselves. The purpose of this paper is to follow the development of Romania’s image in English travelogues in the last hundred years, its evolution from a land of “woods and water” in the pre-communist era to a “grand bazaar” in the post-communist one, with clear attempts, in recent years, to re-discover a more idyllic picture of the country, one that should encourage ecological tourism. The article is also intended to illustrate the extra-textual (historical, economic, cultural) factors that have impacted, in different ways, on this image evolution.

Restorative justice in a climate of liberal changes: the case of Romania

Restorative justice became of interest in Romania in 2001, when nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and academic institutions expressed their wish to partner with public institutions within the cr...

Territorial Inequalities and Economic Growth in Romania. A Multi-factor Approach

Territorial inequalities represent a long-running subject in regional economics and many statistical methods aiming to provide relevant data and information on the magnitude and evolution of disparities have been developed over time. It is a topic of interest in Romania as well, given that the development gaps among counties continuously increased since the transition to market economy, despite many strategies explicitly targeting them. In this context, the paper introduces a new synthetic index of territorial inequalities that includes three variables: GDP/capita, labour productivity and life expectancy in order to capture various aspects of economic and social spatial disparities. This methodological approach offers a better and more complex image on territorial development gaps, compared to the analyses using individual indicators. We further assessed the impact of territorial disparities (as measured by this synthetic index) on the economic development in Romania over 1995-2012, by means of an economic growth model. We found a cointegrating relationship between GDP and the synthetic index of territorial inequalities, suggesting that the regional development in Romania is systematically unbalanced and the disparities have had the tendency to widen with economic growth.

Romanian Military Attachés in London and their Diplomatic Value (1919-1939)

The article emphasises the fact that the military represented an important component of the connections between Romania and England in the interwar period. An important role in maintain military connections between the two countries was played by military attaches: Nicolae Arion, Matila Costiescu Ghika, Radu R. Rosetti, Ion Antonescu, Nicolae Radescu, Constantin Sanatescu, Gheorghe Niculescu, Gheorghe Dumitrescu, Ermil Gheorghiu. In their diplomatic activity they supported the following: Romania being recognised in England in actual fact; providing good reports for English businessmen; developing Great Britain’s economic interests in Romania; acquainting Romania with the organisation and fighting technique of the British army; achieving a closer cooperation between the two armies (British and Romanian); building common military objectives (such as the Tașaul military port), and others.

The Sustainability of Social Enterprises

During recent years we have witnessed a growing interest in Romania for social economy, as a result of the increasing interest of EU towards the field and the financing lines as SOP HRD 2007-2013, and as well for developing a legal framework on social economy. In Romania, many of the social economy organizations are dependent on these sources of funding, which is a major obstacle to long term sustainability of the sector. In this context, the paper aims to analyse the strategies of social enterprises established under the Priority Axis 6 of SOP HRD to ensure sustainability, on the assumption that once the funding ends they face significant risks and adopt different strategies in order to develop. The sustainability of social enterprises will be explored from three perspectives: (1) financial, seeking to identify the strategies of social enterprises to attract new funding, (2) in terms of consistency of the social enterprise with its initial objectives and principles and (3) from the point of view of the social enterprises' impact on vulnerable groups and the community. The analysis will be based on data from sociological researches on social economy entities in Romania, carried out between 2009 and 2014.

A doctoral thesis about Carol Davila written in Paris in 1936.

Carol Davila, the father of the Romanian modern medicine, made decisive contributions to the development of health sciences in the Romanian Principalities in the last decades of the nineteenth century. The merit of his scientific work was recognized beyond the borders of his country.His life (not devoid of anecdotic instances and unknown episodes) and especially his work have aroused considerable interest among numerous medical historians. This paper presents a historical study elaborated in France, but until recently ignored, dedicated to the biography of Carol Davila.It concerns the medical doctoral thesis (State Diploma) elaborated by Joseph Adler (born 1910 in Botoşani, Romania) under the supervision of professor Maxime Laignel-Lavastine, whose interest in Romania is well-known.Professor Laignel-Lavastine held the office of Secretary General of the International Society of History of Medicine (ISHM), founded in 1921, (replaced in this position by another French professor with links to Romania: Jules Guiart).The thesis comprises 48 pages and an exhaustive bibliography. It represents a token of the appreciation given to Davila’s achievements by Europe’s medical community.

Mapping trends of large and medium size carnivores of conservation interest in Romania

We analysed yearly estimates of population size data during 2001-2012 for five carnivores species of conservation interest ( Ursus arctos, Canis lupus, Lynx lynx, Felis silvestris and Canis aureus ). Population size estimations were done by the game management authorities and integrated by the competent authorities on the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. Trends in data were detected using non-parametric Mann-Kendall test. This test was chosen considering the short length of data series and its usefulness for non-normal distributed data. The trend was tested at three spatial scales: game management units (n=1565), biogeographical region (n=5) and national. Trends depicted for each game management unit were plotted using ArcGIS, resulting species trend distribution maps. For the studied period increasing population trends were observed for Ursus arctos, Canis lupus, Canis aureus and Lynx lynx , while for Felis silvestris there was no trend recorded. Such an analysis in especially useful for conservation proposes, game management and reporting obligations under article 17 of the EC Habitat Directive, using population trend as a proxy for population dynamics. We conclude that the status of the five carnivore species is favourable during the study period.

The structure of vocational interests in Romania.

Using data provided by the Self-Directed Search (SDS) on a sample of 1,519 participants comprising 3 subsamples containing high school students, university students, and working adults, the authors examine the structure of vocational interests in Romania. Three competing structural models of vocational interests (Holland's circumplex model and Gati's and Rounds and Tracey's hierarchical models) are analyzed with 3 different approaches: (a) frequency analysis of 2-letter codes, (b) randomization test of hypothesized order relations, and (c) structural equation modeling. The stability of the structure of vocational interests across age is also analyzed. The findings suggest mixed evidence for the 3 models, with Holland's model receiving more support from structural equation modeling, and Gati's and Rounds and Tracey's models receiving more support from the frequency analysis of 2-letter codes. The data conclusively show that the structure of vocational interests becomes clearer with age.

Hollywood's struggle for Romania, 1938–1945

Film culture in Romania has often been glossed over or absent from standard works on European cinema, even ones dealing with Eastern Europe. However, new interest in Romania's film history has been...

The Importance of Cultural Identity in Adoption: A Study of Young People Adopted from Romania

This article by Celia Beckett, Amanda Hawkins, Michael Rutter, Jenny Castle, Emma Colvert, Christine Groothues, Jana Kreppner, Suzanne Stevens and Edmund Sonuga-Barke examines attitudes regarding cultural and national identity in a group of 165 young people adopted from Romania. The attitudes of their adoptive parents are also explored. The adoptive parents were interviewed over three or four time periods, when their children were 4/6, 11 and 15 years, and the adopted young people at the age of 11 and 15. The majority of the adopted young people had an interest in Romania and expressed a wish to visit their country of origin. However, there was no association between this interest in Romanian identity and levels of self-esteem. The majority of the adoptees saw themselves as English or Anglo-Romanian. A small minority saw themselves as Romanian; these adoptees had both lower self-esteem and a higher level of deprivation-specific problems. The degree of sustained interest shown by adoptive parents in the importance of Romanian identity was associated with the adopted young people's interest in Romania. However, parental interest in this issue had significantly declined by the time the children were 11 years old, by which time fewer adoptive parents than young people had plans to visit Romania in the future.

Churchill and Romania: The myth of the October 1944 ‘betrayal’

Churchill has been criticised in contemporary Romania for allegedly ‘selling’ the country to Stalin by the October 1944 percentages agreement. The importance of the agreement has, however, been exaggerated because of the lack of a clear explanation of its meaning in official documents and because the idea of Churchill and Stalin carving up Europe has appealed as a simple explanation for the division of the continent, while fitting the political agenda of some circles in Greece and Romania. The agreement was quoted as a justification for Britain's lack of intervention in some aspects of Romanian affairs in 1944 and 1945, but the presence of the Red Army in the country meant that Moscow could impose its will regardless, making British restraint irrelevant to Romania's fate. Moreover, Britain had important commercial interests in Romania which it sought to protect and did not accept the inevitability of communist rule until December 1945.