Romania in 1920s

Stephen Fischer Galati, Twentieth Century Rumania, Columbia University Press, 19701/13/2011 9:40:00 AM
Romanias initial problems in postwar years can be ascribed to the unwillingness of the Bucharest politicians to provide adequate formulae for national and international reconciliation (p29) Very little national unity o How does one integrate foreigners Bucharest did now try and acquiesce with new minorities or Jews based on economic fears (p30) Previously Transylvanians, Magyars, Saxons, Jews and Szeklers had all controlled professional and intellectual life of the province (p30) The repression by Romanian forces of Bela Kun revolution in Hungary created antagonism Bucharests policies transcended the avenging of historic national injustices (p31) Distributed lands of foreigners and absentee landlords was designed to create a class of grateful peasants. o Happened most in Transylvania where peasant political consciousness was most developed (p31) o In Bessarabia innocent Jews were fleeced in the name of nationalism and economic justice (p32) o Hungarian and Jewish communities were singled out for persecution (p32) Can be seen that neither Romanian revisionism or Russian Communism posed a serious threat to the stability of the Romanian state (p32) Given that Jews, Hungarians and Communists favored the working class and the peasantry their actions were watched and the peasantry heavily protected by Bucharest Political warfare rather than reconciliation best describes the formative years of Greater Romania Key Sociopolitical question that face Greater Romania was that of land reform, the assurances given to the peasants were not carried out. When the coalition government of the National Party of Transylvania and the Peasant Party of Wallachia came to power all Old Kingdom politicians united against rule by radicals and foreigners (p35) The coalition government had policies of real social reform in the village as well as national reconciliation o Show that some political parties did try o BUT they were accused of treachery

The Coup Detat of the monarchy meant that General Alexandru Averescu had political power, the Peoples Party was created and the government became very anti-semitic, anti communist and anti-magyar. Also meant land reform did not occur. Even after Bratianu succeeded him in 1922 there was little or no chance for social or national reconciliation o Moreover, the final land reform issued in 1921 was far less liberal than expected (p36) Favoured conservative landowners and former landowners were given roles in bureaucracy In 1921 with growing commercial, financial and industrial community the King and Right wing nationalist intelligentsia were able to create a conservative bulwark against the Liberal or Communist intellectuals (p36) The formation of the Romanian Communist Party in 1921 meant that encouragement was given to right wing nationalists such as the Iron Legion of Codreanu Averescus policies alienated the peasantry to the extent that it created permanent resistence to the regime. The Bratianu regime focused on letting peasants get on with their lives and empowering the beorgeiosie and politicians. The worker, like the peasants was deprived of political rights (p39) suggestions for change were automatically branded as Communist (p39)

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