Multimedia Mania/abacus-multimedia-mania.iso/dp/0042/00421.txt

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$Unique_ID{bob00421}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Romania
Front Matter}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{Eugene K. Keefe}
$Affiliation{HQ, Department of the Army}
$Subject{romanian
percent
communist
party
political
romania
soviet
state
system
country}
$Date{1972}
$Log{}
Title:       Romania
Book:        Romania, A Country Study
Author:      Eugene K. Keefe
Affiliation: HQ, Department of the Army
Date:        1972

Front Matter

Authors:
Donald W. Bernier, Lyle E. Brenneman, William Giloane, James M. Moore Jr.,
Neda A. Walpole

Foreword

     This volume is one of a series of handbooks prepared by Foreign Area
Studies (FAS) of The American University, designed to be useful to military
and other personnel who need a convenient compilation of basic facts about
the social, economic, political, and military institutions and practices of
various countries. The emphasis is on objective description of the nation's
present society and the kinds of possible or probable changes that might be
expected in the future. The handbook seeks to present as full and as balanced
an integrated exposition as limitations on space and research time permit. It
was compiled from information available in openly published material. An
extensive bibliography is provided to permit recourse to other published
sources for more detailed information. There has been no attempt to express
any specific point of view or to make policy recommendations. The contents of
the handbook represent the work of the authors and FAS and do not represent
the official view of the United States government.

     An effort has been made to make the handbook as comprehensive as
possible. It can be expected, however, that the material, interpretations,
and conclusions are subject to modification in the light of new information
and developments. Such corrections, additions, and suggestions for factual,
interpretive, or other change as readers may have will be welcomed for use
in future revisions. Comments may be addressed to:

The Director
Foreign Area Studies
The American University
5010 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20016

Preface

     The former Kingdom of Romania emerged from the post-World War II chaos
as the Romanian People's Republic, a communist satellite so closely aligned
to the policies of the Soviet Union that it often appeared to be ruled from
Moscow. During the 1950s, however, Romania cautiously began seeking to loosen
its ties to Moscow and to assert some measure of autonomy. The widening
Sino-Soviet rift of the early 1960s provided an atmosphere of tension among
communist states that the Romanians used to their own advantage by remaining
neutral in the communist struggle and by seeking greater contacts with
noncommunist states. In internal affairs, the Romanian regime maintained a
rigid hold on all elements of the society. In 1965 the regime changed
the name of the country to the Socialist Republic of Romania and proclaimed
that it was well on the way toward communism. In the early 1970s Romania
remains a member of the Soviet-led military and economic alliances but has
become known as the most independent member.

     The changes wrought by the Communists during a quarter century in power
are numerous and far reaching. Despite the desires of the Soviet leaders that
Romania remain predominantly agricultural, the new Romanian leadership was
determined to industrialize. Enforced socialization and concurrent
industrialization brought a host of problems in the political, social, and
economic life of the country. Reorientation of the society and the political
structure was brought about by force when necessary, but the restructuring of
the economy within the framework of the avowed Marxist-Leninist ideology
proved to be more difficult and led to problems that had still not been
overcome by early 1972.

     This handbook attempts to describe the social, political, and economic
bases of Romanian society and, more particularly, how these bases have
been affected by Romania's independent stance within the alliances of Eastern
European communist countries. The authors of the handbook have tried to be
objective in order to provide a comprehensive exposition of the dominant
aspects of Romanian life in the early 1970s. Often hampered by a lack of
credible statistical information as well as an overabundance of biased
propaganda, the authors have attempted to piece together sufficient factual
material to present an accurate appraisal and an indication of observable
trends.

     English usage follows Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary. Place
names used in the text are those approved by the United States Board on
Geographic Names. Tonnages are given in the metric system, but for other
measurements standard United States terminology has been used. The use of
Romanian words has been held to a minimum and, where used, they have been
explained in the text and in the Glossary, which is appended for the reader's
convenience. The acronym PCR, derived from Partidul Comunist Roman (Romanian
Communist Party), is used throughout the book and is fully explained in the
Glossary.

Country Summary

     1. COUNTRY: Officially redesignated the Socialist Republic of Romania
under Constitution of 1965. Established originally as the Kingdom of Romania
in 1881, was converted into the Romanian People's Republic in 1948 by
communist party with Soviet backing.

     2. GOVERNMENT: Constitution of 1965 provides for a unicameral legislature
and a collegial executive known as the Council of State. Romanian Communist
Party controls elections and runs the government at all levels. Top party
officials concurrently occupy top governmental offices. Ultimate political
power rests in the party hierarchy, particularly in the person of the party
general secretary who, since 1967, has also been head of state.

     3. SIZE AND LOCATION: Area of over 91,700 square miles. In southeastern
Europe, shares 1,975 miles of demarcated and undisputed land borders with
Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Hungary, and the Soviet Union. With 150 miles of
shoreline, shares riparian rights on Black Sea with Turkey, Bulgaria, and the
Soviet Union.

     4. TOPOGRAPHY: Terrain is generally irregular. The Transylvania basin in
the northwest occupies about one-third of the country and is separated from
the plains and lowlands of Walachia, Dobruja, and Moldavia to the south and
east by the curving course of the Carpathian Mountains and the Transylvanian
Alps, which cut across the central portion of the country.

     5. CLIMATE: Generally Eastern European Continental, dominated by high
pressure systems from European Soviet Union and north-central Asia. Little
variation or moderation experienced in the prevailing long cold winters and
short hot summers.

     6. POPULATION: Almost 20.6 million in 1971; annual growth rate of 1.3
percent, among the highest in Eastern Europe. Density more than 224 persons
per square mile. Largest minority is Hungarian, comprising 8 percent of
population, followed by German, with 2 percent.

     7. LANGUAGE: Romanian, the official language, spoken by virtually all
elements of the population. Hungarian and German also recognized and utilized
in areas of large minority concentrations.

     8. LABOR: Working population employed by the state in 1969 numbered about
5 million. About 40 percent were employed in in dustry; about 51 percent, in
agriculture. Women constituted about 43 percent of the industrial and 57.5
percent of the collective farm labor forces.

     9. RELIGION: Freedom of worship is guaranteed by Constitution, but state
controls all church activities. About two-thirds of population belong to
Romanian Orthodox Church. Importance of Roman Catholic and Protestant
minorities enhanced because of their identity with Hungarian and German
ethnic groups.

     10. EDUCATION: Restructured in 1948 into a highly centralized system with
a broad base, standardized curricula, mandatory attendance through tenth
grade, and heavy emphasis on vocational and technical subjects above the
elementary level. Political indoctrination permeates entire system.

     11. JUSTICE: Theoretically independent, the three-level court system
(local, district, and Supreme Court) functions as part of executive branch.
Military tribunal operate as part of system under Supreme Court.

     12. ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS: Thirty-nine counties, each subdivided into
varying numbers of communes, villages, and municipalities. Bucharest
administered as an independent political entity. Governmental functioning
ostensibly decentralized, but policy and control exercised by higher state and
party organs.

     13. ECONOMY: Government controlled, with basic five-year plans patterned
on Soviet model. Development hampered by scarcity of raw materials and
manufacturing equipment and by insufficient number of experienced workers and
managers.

     14. AGRICULTURE: About 63 percent of land is agricultural; of this,
65 percent under cultivation. Food production adequate for domestic needs,
but exports limited because of insufficient investment and lack of labor
incentives.

     15. INDUSTRY: Rapid growth since 1950 stimulated by massive inputs
of capital, labor, and imports of modern machinery and technology. Labor
productivity and quality of manufactured products have improved but remain
low.

     16. FOREIGN ECONOMIC RELATIONS: Foreign trade is state monopoly
and is conducted primarily with Soviet Union and East European communist
countries. Balance of trade generally negative, reflecting imports of
high-quality machinery from West necessary for industrial advancement. Exports
limited to light machinery, foodstuffs, and some consumer goods.

     17. FINANCE: Monetary unit is the nonconvertible leu. The 1972 exchange
rates varied between the official 5.53 lei per US$1 to tourist rates of about
16 lei per US$1. Currency and foreign exchange are state controlled,
administered through the National Bank.

     18. COMMUNICATIONS: All information media party or state owned and
controlled. Press and radio more extensively developed than television,
but all function as parts of ideological and political indoctrination system.

     19. RAILROADS: Important freight and passenger carrier. About 6,900
miles of trunkline in operation, almost all standard gauge. About 100
miles electrified, and rest of system converting to use of diesel locomotives.

     20. HIGHWAYS: Of 47,800 total road mileage, about 6,600 miles nationally
maintained as principal operating network. System supplanting railroads
as major short-haul carrier of freight and passengers.

     21. INLAND WATERWAYS: About 1,500 miles of principal rivers and canals
are navigable. Water transport has minor role as a cargo carrier.

     22. AIRWAYS: Romanian Air Transport, the state-owned airline, operates
domestic service to twelve principal cities and to about twenty national
capitals in Europe and the Middle East.

     23. PIPELINES: Largest network serves oilfields and moves most liquid
petroleum and refined products to refineries and ports. Natural gas lines
exist, but mountainous terrain limits general distribution.

     24. MERCHANT MARINE: Small in number but operates modern ships
and equipment. Transport limited principally to truck cargo and freight.

     25. ARMED FORCES: In 1972 consisted of about 200,000 men organized
into ground, naval, air, air defense, and frontier forces, all administered
by a single ministry. All elements operate as part of army, which is largest
single component.

     26. SECURITY: Security forces, nationally organized and centrally
controlled by Ministry of Internal Affairs, consist of ordinary police
(militia) and security troops, which perform counter-espionage and
countersubversive functions.

     27. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS: Member of the United Nations
and a number of its specialized agencies. Member of the Warsaw Treaty
Organization (Warsaw Pact) and the Council for Mutual Economic
Assistance (COMECON).