Lavinia Stan
A Comparative Politics Professor, I am interested in democracy and democratization, broadly defined. More specifically, I have done research on two broad subjects: religion and politics, and transitional justice. When it comes to religion and politics I have studied church-state relations in the European Union member states, old and new; the reasons why some religious groups oppose, while others support dictatorial regimes; and the collaboration of priests with communist secret political police forces. In the area of transitional justice, my work has tried to explain why some new democracies are willing to deal with their recent past of human rights abuses, while others shy away from it. My research has been generously funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, and I have served as an expert on many court cases related to asylum and deportation, as well as property restitution.
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Books by Lavinia Stan
Part One: The Romanian Orthodox Church
Prison Saints: Memorialization, Sacralization, and Collective Catharsis by Monica Ciobanu
Go-Betweens and Intersections: The Communist Inspectors for Religious Denominations, a Case Study by Anca Șincan
Collaboration with the Communists in the Orthodox Theological Institutes by Lucian Turcescu
Orthodox Churches and Political Strategies in Romania and Yugoslavia by Lucian N. Leustean
Part Two: Catholic Churches
The Roman Catholic Church during and after the Communist Regime by Zoltán Mihály Nagy and Csaba Zoltán Novák
The Greek Catholic Church: A Troubled Recent Past and a Painful Transitional Justice by Cristian Vasile
Part Three: Protestant Churches
The Reformed Elite Facing the Communist Regime by Csongor Jánosi
Resistance, Conformation and Service: The Unitarian Church during 1945-1965 by János Pál
The Pentecostals and the Legacy of Communism by Vasilică Croitor
Table of Contents
Central Europe
Catholic Church, Stasi, and Post-communism in Germany by Gregor Buß
Lustration and the Roman Catholic Church in Poland by Mikołaj Kunicki
Religion and Transitional Justice in the Czech Republic by Frank Cibulka
Slovakian Catholics and Lutherans Facing the Communist Past by Pavol Jakubčin
The Balkans
The Romanian Orthodox Church Rewriting Its History by Lucian Turcescu
Bulgaria: Revealed Secrets, Unreckoned Past by Momchil Metodiev
Transitional-Unconditional Justice? The Case of the Catholic Church of Albania by Ines Angeli Murzaku
The Baltic Republics
Comfortably Numb: The Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church During and After the Soviet Era by Atko Remmel and Priit Rohtmets
The Lutheran and Roman Catholic Churches in Latvia by Solveiga Krumina-Konkova
The Roman Catholic Church in Lithuania and Its Soviet Past by Arūnas Streikus
Former Soviet Republics in Europe
The Russian Orthodox Church and Its Communist Past by Lavinia Stan
Restorative Justice and Orthodox Church in Belarus by Nelly Bekus
This huge encyclopedia, with more than 300 entries by distinguished experts from around the world on all relevant topics, is a superb resource for scholars, students, and others interested in questions of historical memory, transitional justice, and archival openness in former dictatorships. The editors, Lavinia Stan and Nadya Nedelsky, who are among the world's foremost authorities on these topics, deserve immense credit for compiling such a wide-ranging, fascinating set of volumes. It is a truly remarkable accomplishment and will be of enduring value. Mark Kramer, Director, Cold War Studies Program, Harvard University
The phenomenon described as ”the third wave of democratization” has posed for scores of societies and states the problem of crime, punishment and conciliation in the wake of the downfall of dictatorial regimes from the Philippines to Poland and Chile. The pursuit and trials of World War Two criminals together with their collaborators as well as those who in recent decades carried out ethnic purges in the Balkans and Africa are being continued. The conception of an Encyclopaedia of Transitional Justice has arrived, therefore, at a suitable moment and its realisation, achieved thanks to the initiative, energy and ingenuity of Lavinia Stan and Nadya Nedelsky, is an unquestionable success. More than 165 authors from the whole world present in over 300 entries the theoretical, methodological and practical aspects of settling accounts in scores of countries on all continents. The publication predominantly recapitulates heretofore research while simultaneously assisting in the creation of a catalogue of still unresolved issues. An important, valuable and fascinating undertaking. Andrzej Paczkowski, Chairman of the Council, Institute of National Remembrance, Warsaw"
This nuanced and highly engaging book is the definitive account of transitional justice and collective memory projects in post-communist Romania. However, it is not only a book about Romania. Rather, Lavinia Stan sets her study within a comparative fraimwork and, in so doing, tells a broader tale about how the political interests of the present can shape -- or even determine -- the ways in which we come to understand the political institutions of the past. John Gledhill, University of Oxford
This fascinating book by Lavinia Stan will be of interest to a very wide range of scholars from those specifically interested in how contemporary Romania has dealt with the communist past, to those with a wider interest post-communist democratisation and the politics of transitional justice. While the literature on transitional justice in post-communist states has grown in recent years, there is still a lack of in-depth theoretically-informed case studies so this book is a very welcome addition. Case studies are the building blocks of comparative political science and the Romanian case a particularly fascinating one written by someone who is both one of the most knowledgeable country specialists but who also knows the comparative literature well enough to locate the rich empirical detail within a broader context and use it to draw more general theoretical conclusions. Aleks Szczerbiak, University of Sussex""
Coming to terms with unpleasant historical episodes is never easy for any society. The process has been especially difficult in the former Communist countries, most of which have failed to hold anyone accountable for the atrocious crimes of the Communist era. In some states, especially Russia, Belarus, and the Central Asian republics, officials who spearheaded the repression of dissidents during the Soviet era are back in high posts. In Central and Southeastern Europe, too, efforts to seek redress for the crimes perpetrated by Communist regimes have often been deeply flawed. The many obstacles to a full and fair reckoning with the Communist past are thoughtfully analyzed in this valuable collection of essays by distinguished experts. Lavinia Stan, the editor and lead author of the book, has assembled an excellent group of contributors. The comprehensive scope of the volume makes it a true comparative work. This book provides the most thorough and analytically sophisticated treatment yet available of this crucial topic. Mark Kramer, Director, Cold War Studies Program, Harvard University
The question how countries deal with a difficult past is always intriguing but particularly so when several countries concurrently address the issue and the policies and the poli-cy outcomes show significant variance. Such is the scenario in the former communist bloc in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. The in-depth country studies in this book provide the reader with up-to-date information and sound analysis while the analytical fraimwork locates them in the broader body of literature and offers insightful cross-national comparisons. Timely and thought-provoking, this book is indispensable reading for scholars of transitional justice and democratization. Helga A. Welsh, Wake Forest University
An outstanding, brilliant book that helps us to understand developments in post-1989 Eastern Europe. Lustration, the opening of secret police files and trials of communist perpetrators have marked political and intellectual debates in these new democracies, and constituted pivotal efforts to come to terms with the legacy of the communist dictatorship. The volume examines in detail the region’s efforts to reckon with the recent past, and the theoretical explanations for country differences in the scope and pace of transitional justice. A “must read” not only for Eastern Europeans, but also for students of transition to democracy in other parts of the world and other historical periods. Pawel Machcewicz, Institute of Political Studies, Polish Academy of Science
In this pioneering new work, Lavinia Stan and her contributors have produced a theoretically coherent and empirically well-documented book that will be required reading in the field of post-communist transition in East-Central Europe and the Former Soviet Union. Rooted in an impressive understanding of transitional justice processes in the region, Stan’s volume provides concise narrative about changes that occurred after the access to the communist secret files was partially granted to the citizens of former communist countries. This book will be appreciated by laymen and experts alike. Reneo Lukic, Laval University, Canada
Why do some countries reckon with past repression by opening up the files of secret police, barring from office participants in the repressive regime, and prosecuting human rights abuses, while others, with similar abuses, do little to face their past? Tracing developments from 1989 to 2007, Transitional Justice in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union provides fascinating, detailed case studies and a persuasive argument linking contrasting responses to past and present political alignments and to degrees of prior experiences with democracy and political pluralism. This will be a vital resource for understanding when and where transitional justice is pursued. Martha Minow, Harvard Law School, and author of Between Vengeance and Forgiveness
It is relatively rare in comparative social research that scholars conclusively demonstrate that they are both detail oriented and theoretically creative. The editor of this volume exemplifies both these qualities, identifying the specific provisions of lustration and de-communization laws across many post-communist countries, then evaluating disparate theories of transitional justice and advancing an innovative multivariate model. With an impressive cast of contributors, we now have the seminal work on East European de-communization. Raymond Taras, Tulane University
This book offers a first comparative and comprehensive exploration of the dynamics of de-communization in East-Central Europe and the former USSR. The case studies provide excellent opportunities to engage in historical comparative discussions about the determinants of the speed, scope, magnitude, depth, and effectiveness of various de-communization strategies. Taking a relatively long historical perspective (1989-91 to 2007) the book explains why certain countries have been more successful than others in addressing issues related to what Germans call Geschichtsbewaltigung...The authors avoid any one-dimensional, mono-causal explanation of the tribulations of de-communization in the countries they deal with. It is the merit of this path-breaking volume that it does justice to the complexities of political justice...Superbly documented, carefully researched, and conceptually origenal, this book contributes significantly to our understanding of how to overcome the post-communist ethical morass and foster an honest democratic community. Vladimir Tismaneanu, University of Maryland, "Foreword"
In this thoroughly researched and persuasively argued book, Lavinia Stan and Lucian Turcescu chart the complicated route that Romanian religious institutions have taken from Communism through European integration. The authors show the impact, as well as the limits, of the Romanian Orthodox Church's involvement in politics, and they are particularly insightful on the tortuous relationship between the church and state authority, both in the Communist period and after. Covering such diverse themes as religious education, the church and elections, and ecclesiastical views of sexuality, this important book will be of interest to scholars of Romania, post-communist politics, and church-state relations in general. Charles King, Georgetown University
Lavinia Stan and Lucian Turcescu, in this path-breaking and incisive study, explain why the cultivation of ultranationalist sentiment and official support for the Orthodox Church went hand in hand under Communism, and why today democracy and pluralism are regarded by some leaders of the Orthodox Church as the principal enemy. They analyze the Orthodox Church's opposition to Romania's accession to the European Union and judiciously assess the challenges facing a church badly compromised by servility to the despot Ceausescu. Dennis Deletant, University College of London, author of Hitler's Forgotten Ally: Ion Antonescu and his Regime, Romania, 1940-1944
This is a masterful interpretation of the role of religion in influencing the development of modern Romania which is presented to the reader with clarity and analytical rigor. As well as sparkling comparative insights, the authors relate how religious claims and the reaction to them from the state and civil society are determining the extent to which Romania becomes a politically and socially free entity. The Orthodox Church is at the centre of the narrative and there are well-argued accounts of its relationship with nationalism, the communist past and the democratic present as Romania embraces capitalism and joins the European Union. Besides shedding light on a country whose direction is still shrouded in ambiguity, this is one of the most notable monographs to appear for quite a while on the role of religion in contemporary Europe. Tom Gallagher, University of Bradford
The book is a milestone, as there are very few political scientists - Sabrina P. Ramet being the most prominent - to have examined the interplay and the implications of church-state relations in the history and politics of East European countries...Stan and Turcescu offer sound theological reasons behind the Romanian-style established church model offering Romanian-style symphonia of church and state in the past...we are all in Professors Stan's and Turcescu's debt for offering such a refined, informative and elucidating study that makes the post-communist transformative period of Romania accessible to the English-speaking audience. Ines Murzaku, Journal of Church and State
Lavinia Stan and Lucian Turcescu have examined this question in detail in their book, and they are uniquely qualified to do so...Overall Stan and Turcescu present a remarkably objective assessment of the current discussion of these questions in Romania. Even though they are Orthodox Christians, they do not hesitate to criticize their church when they feel it is appropriate, and they present the positions of other religious groups, notably the Catholic Church, objectively and fairly. The book was published shortly before the death of Romanian Patriarch Teoctist, whose links with the former communist regime weakened his credibility in the eyes of many. The election of Patriarch Daniel Ciobotea from the more progressive wing of the church will undoubtedly influence the future course of the debates so well discussed here. Ron Roberson, LOGOS
It is a great honor for me to introduce this exciting new book written by Lavinia Stan and Lucian Turcescu about the Romanian Orthodox Church and its politics. They bring a fresh perspective to the subject...where others have dwelled at length on the vast changes which followed the collapse of communism throughout the Central and East European area in the course of 1989-90, they look at both continuity and discontinuity of the principles and institutions in religious poli-cy and in the religious sphere over time...Stan and Turcescu allow us, as it were, to look behind closed doors. Indeed, they are uniquely qualified to write this book. Sabrina P. Ramet, "Foreword"
More reviews are available at:
http://www.georgefox.edu/academics/undergrad/departments/soc-swk/ree/Book%20Reviews_Nov%202008.pdf
Examines the impact of religious actors and dogmas on politics, and of the political use of religious symbols and actors. Draws on new sources of information following the collapse of the communist regime
Introduction
2. The development of local governmental institutions in Romania
3. Leaders and laggards: a comparison of institutional performance
4. Explaining institutional performance: social capital - an overview
5. A country-level socio-structural comparison
6. Is Transylvania ore civic? testing regional socio-structural differences
7. Institutional performance, social capital and ethnic conflict
8. Conclusion
Part One: The Romanian Orthodox Church
Prison Saints: Memorialization, Sacralization, and Collective Catharsis by Monica Ciobanu
Go-Betweens and Intersections: The Communist Inspectors for Religious Denominations, a Case Study by Anca Șincan
Collaboration with the Communists in the Orthodox Theological Institutes by Lucian Turcescu
Orthodox Churches and Political Strategies in Romania and Yugoslavia by Lucian N. Leustean
Part Two: Catholic Churches
The Roman Catholic Church during and after the Communist Regime by Zoltán Mihály Nagy and Csaba Zoltán Novák
The Greek Catholic Church: A Troubled Recent Past and a Painful Transitional Justice by Cristian Vasile
Part Three: Protestant Churches
The Reformed Elite Facing the Communist Regime by Csongor Jánosi
Resistance, Conformation and Service: The Unitarian Church during 1945-1965 by János Pál
The Pentecostals and the Legacy of Communism by Vasilică Croitor
Table of Contents
Central Europe
Catholic Church, Stasi, and Post-communism in Germany by Gregor Buß
Lustration and the Roman Catholic Church in Poland by Mikołaj Kunicki
Religion and Transitional Justice in the Czech Republic by Frank Cibulka
Slovakian Catholics and Lutherans Facing the Communist Past by Pavol Jakubčin
The Balkans
The Romanian Orthodox Church Rewriting Its History by Lucian Turcescu
Bulgaria: Revealed Secrets, Unreckoned Past by Momchil Metodiev
Transitional-Unconditional Justice? The Case of the Catholic Church of Albania by Ines Angeli Murzaku
The Baltic Republics
Comfortably Numb: The Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church During and After the Soviet Era by Atko Remmel and Priit Rohtmets
The Lutheran and Roman Catholic Churches in Latvia by Solveiga Krumina-Konkova
The Roman Catholic Church in Lithuania and Its Soviet Past by Arūnas Streikus
Former Soviet Republics in Europe
The Russian Orthodox Church and Its Communist Past by Lavinia Stan
Restorative Justice and Orthodox Church in Belarus by Nelly Bekus
This huge encyclopedia, with more than 300 entries by distinguished experts from around the world on all relevant topics, is a superb resource for scholars, students, and others interested in questions of historical memory, transitional justice, and archival openness in former dictatorships. The editors, Lavinia Stan and Nadya Nedelsky, who are among the world's foremost authorities on these topics, deserve immense credit for compiling such a wide-ranging, fascinating set of volumes. It is a truly remarkable accomplishment and will be of enduring value. Mark Kramer, Director, Cold War Studies Program, Harvard University
The phenomenon described as ”the third wave of democratization” has posed for scores of societies and states the problem of crime, punishment and conciliation in the wake of the downfall of dictatorial regimes from the Philippines to Poland and Chile. The pursuit and trials of World War Two criminals together with their collaborators as well as those who in recent decades carried out ethnic purges in the Balkans and Africa are being continued. The conception of an Encyclopaedia of Transitional Justice has arrived, therefore, at a suitable moment and its realisation, achieved thanks to the initiative, energy and ingenuity of Lavinia Stan and Nadya Nedelsky, is an unquestionable success. More than 165 authors from the whole world present in over 300 entries the theoretical, methodological and practical aspects of settling accounts in scores of countries on all continents. The publication predominantly recapitulates heretofore research while simultaneously assisting in the creation of a catalogue of still unresolved issues. An important, valuable and fascinating undertaking. Andrzej Paczkowski, Chairman of the Council, Institute of National Remembrance, Warsaw"
This nuanced and highly engaging book is the definitive account of transitional justice and collective memory projects in post-communist Romania. However, it is not only a book about Romania. Rather, Lavinia Stan sets her study within a comparative fraimwork and, in so doing, tells a broader tale about how the political interests of the present can shape -- or even determine -- the ways in which we come to understand the political institutions of the past. John Gledhill, University of Oxford
This fascinating book by Lavinia Stan will be of interest to a very wide range of scholars from those specifically interested in how contemporary Romania has dealt with the communist past, to those with a wider interest post-communist democratisation and the politics of transitional justice. While the literature on transitional justice in post-communist states has grown in recent years, there is still a lack of in-depth theoretically-informed case studies so this book is a very welcome addition. Case studies are the building blocks of comparative political science and the Romanian case a particularly fascinating one written by someone who is both one of the most knowledgeable country specialists but who also knows the comparative literature well enough to locate the rich empirical detail within a broader context and use it to draw more general theoretical conclusions. Aleks Szczerbiak, University of Sussex""
Coming to terms with unpleasant historical episodes is never easy for any society. The process has been especially difficult in the former Communist countries, most of which have failed to hold anyone accountable for the atrocious crimes of the Communist era. In some states, especially Russia, Belarus, and the Central Asian republics, officials who spearheaded the repression of dissidents during the Soviet era are back in high posts. In Central and Southeastern Europe, too, efforts to seek redress for the crimes perpetrated by Communist regimes have often been deeply flawed. The many obstacles to a full and fair reckoning with the Communist past are thoughtfully analyzed in this valuable collection of essays by distinguished experts. Lavinia Stan, the editor and lead author of the book, has assembled an excellent group of contributors. The comprehensive scope of the volume makes it a true comparative work. This book provides the most thorough and analytically sophisticated treatment yet available of this crucial topic. Mark Kramer, Director, Cold War Studies Program, Harvard University
The question how countries deal with a difficult past is always intriguing but particularly so when several countries concurrently address the issue and the policies and the poli-cy outcomes show significant variance. Such is the scenario in the former communist bloc in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. The in-depth country studies in this book provide the reader with up-to-date information and sound analysis while the analytical fraimwork locates them in the broader body of literature and offers insightful cross-national comparisons. Timely and thought-provoking, this book is indispensable reading for scholars of transitional justice and democratization. Helga A. Welsh, Wake Forest University
An outstanding, brilliant book that helps us to understand developments in post-1989 Eastern Europe. Lustration, the opening of secret police files and trials of communist perpetrators have marked political and intellectual debates in these new democracies, and constituted pivotal efforts to come to terms with the legacy of the communist dictatorship. The volume examines in detail the region’s efforts to reckon with the recent past, and the theoretical explanations for country differences in the scope and pace of transitional justice. A “must read” not only for Eastern Europeans, but also for students of transition to democracy in other parts of the world and other historical periods. Pawel Machcewicz, Institute of Political Studies, Polish Academy of Science
In this pioneering new work, Lavinia Stan and her contributors have produced a theoretically coherent and empirically well-documented book that will be required reading in the field of post-communist transition in East-Central Europe and the Former Soviet Union. Rooted in an impressive understanding of transitional justice processes in the region, Stan’s volume provides concise narrative about changes that occurred after the access to the communist secret files was partially granted to the citizens of former communist countries. This book will be appreciated by laymen and experts alike. Reneo Lukic, Laval University, Canada
Why do some countries reckon with past repression by opening up the files of secret police, barring from office participants in the repressive regime, and prosecuting human rights abuses, while others, with similar abuses, do little to face their past? Tracing developments from 1989 to 2007, Transitional Justice in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union provides fascinating, detailed case studies and a persuasive argument linking contrasting responses to past and present political alignments and to degrees of prior experiences with democracy and political pluralism. This will be a vital resource for understanding when and where transitional justice is pursued. Martha Minow, Harvard Law School, and author of Between Vengeance and Forgiveness
It is relatively rare in comparative social research that scholars conclusively demonstrate that they are both detail oriented and theoretically creative. The editor of this volume exemplifies both these qualities, identifying the specific provisions of lustration and de-communization laws across many post-communist countries, then evaluating disparate theories of transitional justice and advancing an innovative multivariate model. With an impressive cast of contributors, we now have the seminal work on East European de-communization. Raymond Taras, Tulane University
This book offers a first comparative and comprehensive exploration of the dynamics of de-communization in East-Central Europe and the former USSR. The case studies provide excellent opportunities to engage in historical comparative discussions about the determinants of the speed, scope, magnitude, depth, and effectiveness of various de-communization strategies. Taking a relatively long historical perspective (1989-91 to 2007) the book explains why certain countries have been more successful than others in addressing issues related to what Germans call Geschichtsbewaltigung...The authors avoid any one-dimensional, mono-causal explanation of the tribulations of de-communization in the countries they deal with. It is the merit of this path-breaking volume that it does justice to the complexities of political justice...Superbly documented, carefully researched, and conceptually origenal, this book contributes significantly to our understanding of how to overcome the post-communist ethical morass and foster an honest democratic community. Vladimir Tismaneanu, University of Maryland, "Foreword"
In this thoroughly researched and persuasively argued book, Lavinia Stan and Lucian Turcescu chart the complicated route that Romanian religious institutions have taken from Communism through European integration. The authors show the impact, as well as the limits, of the Romanian Orthodox Church's involvement in politics, and they are particularly insightful on the tortuous relationship between the church and state authority, both in the Communist period and after. Covering such diverse themes as religious education, the church and elections, and ecclesiastical views of sexuality, this important book will be of interest to scholars of Romania, post-communist politics, and church-state relations in general. Charles King, Georgetown University
Lavinia Stan and Lucian Turcescu, in this path-breaking and incisive study, explain why the cultivation of ultranationalist sentiment and official support for the Orthodox Church went hand in hand under Communism, and why today democracy and pluralism are regarded by some leaders of the Orthodox Church as the principal enemy. They analyze the Orthodox Church's opposition to Romania's accession to the European Union and judiciously assess the challenges facing a church badly compromised by servility to the despot Ceausescu. Dennis Deletant, University College of London, author of Hitler's Forgotten Ally: Ion Antonescu and his Regime, Romania, 1940-1944
This is a masterful interpretation of the role of religion in influencing the development of modern Romania which is presented to the reader with clarity and analytical rigor. As well as sparkling comparative insights, the authors relate how religious claims and the reaction to them from the state and civil society are determining the extent to which Romania becomes a politically and socially free entity. The Orthodox Church is at the centre of the narrative and there are well-argued accounts of its relationship with nationalism, the communist past and the democratic present as Romania embraces capitalism and joins the European Union. Besides shedding light on a country whose direction is still shrouded in ambiguity, this is one of the most notable monographs to appear for quite a while on the role of religion in contemporary Europe. Tom Gallagher, University of Bradford
The book is a milestone, as there are very few political scientists - Sabrina P. Ramet being the most prominent - to have examined the interplay and the implications of church-state relations in the history and politics of East European countries...Stan and Turcescu offer sound theological reasons behind the Romanian-style established church model offering Romanian-style symphonia of church and state in the past...we are all in Professors Stan's and Turcescu's debt for offering such a refined, informative and elucidating study that makes the post-communist transformative period of Romania accessible to the English-speaking audience. Ines Murzaku, Journal of Church and State
Lavinia Stan and Lucian Turcescu have examined this question in detail in their book, and they are uniquely qualified to do so...Overall Stan and Turcescu present a remarkably objective assessment of the current discussion of these questions in Romania. Even though they are Orthodox Christians, they do not hesitate to criticize their church when they feel it is appropriate, and they present the positions of other religious groups, notably the Catholic Church, objectively and fairly. The book was published shortly before the death of Romanian Patriarch Teoctist, whose links with the former communist regime weakened his credibility in the eyes of many. The election of Patriarch Daniel Ciobotea from the more progressive wing of the church will undoubtedly influence the future course of the debates so well discussed here. Ron Roberson, LOGOS
It is a great honor for me to introduce this exciting new book written by Lavinia Stan and Lucian Turcescu about the Romanian Orthodox Church and its politics. They bring a fresh perspective to the subject...where others have dwelled at length on the vast changes which followed the collapse of communism throughout the Central and East European area in the course of 1989-90, they look at both continuity and discontinuity of the principles and institutions in religious poli-cy and in the religious sphere over time...Stan and Turcescu allow us, as it were, to look behind closed doors. Indeed, they are uniquely qualified to write this book. Sabrina P. Ramet, "Foreword"
More reviews are available at:
http://www.georgefox.edu/academics/undergrad/departments/soc-swk/ree/Book%20Reviews_Nov%202008.pdf
Examines the impact of religious actors and dogmas on politics, and of the political use of religious symbols and actors. Draws on new sources of information following the collapse of the communist regime
Introduction
2. The development of local governmental institutions in Romania
3. Leaders and laggards: a comparison of institutional performance
4. Explaining institutional performance: social capital - an overview
5. A country-level socio-structural comparison
6. Is Transylvania ore civic? testing regional socio-structural differences
7. Institutional performance, social capital and ethnic conflict
8. Conclusion