The Romanian People Versus Corruption. The Paradoxical Nexus of Protest and Adaptation


Abstract


Corruption has been widely perceived as one of the main obstacles to Romania's successful transformation from socialism to democracy (and capitalism). Still, in the ensuing years after the 1989 transition, it did not directly stimulate mobilization and protest from below. However, more recently, the country has been undergoing a civic awakening. This article focuses on the interplay between the Romanian government and citizens to identify the dynamics of the growing anti-corruption protests in Romania since 2012. Four episodes of grass-roots mobilization (Austerity-2012, Rosia Montana-2013, Colectiv-2015 and OUG13/#rezist-2017) are systematically examined, taking into account the political opportunity structures and developing dynamics of contention. While these protests have been quite successful in achieving articulated demands, they have not yet transformed into sustained social movements with a wider political agenda of social change.

DOI Code: 10.1285/i20356609v10i3p797

Keywords: Corruption; Romania; nonviolent; collective action; mobilization; protest; accountability

References


Adi, A. and D. Lilleker (5 September 2017) “Reflections on the Romanian #rezist protests and the EACD manifesto against fake news”, EACD blog, retrieved September, 20, 2017 ( https://www.eacd-online.eu/insights/blog/reflections-romanian-rezist-protests-and-eacd-manifesto-against-fake-news).

Agence France Presse (2015) “Anger over Bucharest fire spirals into demands for PM to resign” (3 November).

BEC (2016) Biroul Electral Central, retrieved May 30, 2017,

(http://parlamentare2016.bec.ro/).

Bejan, R., Murvai, P., Mihăilă, I., and M. Cherciov (2015), Transnational responses to global capitalism: the case study of the Roşia Montană campaign, Transnational Social Review, 5(2): 199-207.

Benford, R. D., and D.A. Snow (2000). "Framing processes and social movements: An overview and assessment", Annual review of sociology 26(1): 611-639.

Beyerle, S. (2015), “People Power Versus the Corruption-Impunity-Authoritarian Nexus”, in Burrows, M. and M. Stephan (eds.), Is Authoritarianism Staging a Comeback. Atlantic Council, pp. 145-164.

Beyerle, S. and T. Olteanu (2016), “How Romanian People Power Took on Mining and Corruption,” Foreign Policy, November 17.

Beyerle, S. (2014), Curtailing Corruption: People Power for Accountability and Justice, Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner.

Boc, E. (2012), Conferinta de Presa, January 15, retrieved May 30, 2017 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f3JBkb0IzA).

Bukovansky, M. (2006), “The hollowness of anti-corruption discourse”, Review of international political economy, 13(2): 181-209.

Cassel, C. A. (2003), “Overreporting and Electoral Participation Research”, American Politics Research, 31: 81-92.

Ceka, B. (2013), "The perils of political competition: Explaining participation and trust in political parties in Eastern Europe", Comparative Political Studies 46(12): 1610-1635.

Centrul de studii in idei politice (2017),coruptie si contestare – piata victoriei, retrieved August 30, (2017 http://cesip.ro/cercetare-proteste-05-02-2017/).

Craciun, C. (2015), “Saving Roșia Montană: Romania’s New Face,” Green European Journal, 10.

CriticAtac (2012): Revendicările tinerilor mânioși din Piața Unirii, Cluj-Napoca, retrieved May 30, 2017 (http://www.criticatac.ro/13562/revendicarile-tinerilor-maniosi-din-piata-unirii-cluj-napoca/).

Daphi, P. (2015), Protestforschung am Limit: eine soziologische Annäherung an Pegida. Verein für Protest und Bewegungsforschung e.V.

de Nève, D. and T. Olteanu (2013), Politische Partizipation jenseits der Konventionen. Opladen: Verlag Barbara Budrich.

Deletant, D (1995), Ceaușescu and the Securitate: Coercion and Dissent in Romania, 1965-1989, London: M.E. Sharpe.

della Porta, D., and M. Diani (20062), Social movements: An introduction. Malden, MA John Wiley & Sons.

Deutsche Welle (2012), “Romanian minister sacked for insulting protesters”, January, 23, retrieved May 30, 2017 (http://www.dw.com/en/romanian-minister-sacked-for-insulting-protesters/a-15685511).

Deutsche Welle (2015), “Bucharest fire: protests continue despite Ponta’s resignation”, November 5, retrieved May 30, 2017 (http://www.dw.com/en/bucharest-fire-protests-continue-despite-pontas-resignation/a-18829260)

Dohotaru, A.(2012), Protestatarul. O istorie participative, Bucuresti: Tracus Arte.

Felzer, S., Guo, J., Markova, S., J.A. Cameron, C. Woods, D. Mendoza, and S. Lal (2016), FY16 Romania country opinion survey report. Country Opinion Survey Program (COS), Washington, D.C.: World Bank Group.

Flesher Fominaya, C. F., and L. Cox (eds. 2013), Understanding European movements: New social movements, global justice struggles, anti-austerity protest, London: Routledge.

Ganz, M. (2011), “Public Narrative, Collective Action and Power,” in S. Odugbemi and T. Lee (eds.), Accountability through Public Opinion: From Inertia to Public Action, Washington, DC: The World Bank, pp.273-290.

Gamson, W. A. (2011), “Arab Spring, Israeli summer, and the process of cognitive liberation”, Swiss Political Science Review, 17(4): 463-468.

Gerbaudo, P. (2012), Tweets and the Streets : Social Media and Contemporary Activism, Pluto Press.

Gillet, K. (2017a), “Romanian Unesco site proposal may be halted to allow gold mining,” The Guardian, August 31.

Gillet, K. (2017b), “Protesters in Romania denounce plan to decriminalise misconduct offenses,” The Guardian, February 1.

Giugni, M. (2009), “Political Opportunities: From Tilly to Tilly”, Swiss Political Science Review 15(2): 361–68.

Gradinarul C., Patras, R., and S. Postolea (2016), “Mirrors of Anger: The “Colectiv” Case reflected in Romanian Virtual Community”; Dacoromania Litteraria 3, 155–175.

Gutu, D. (2012): Revoluţia ultraşilor – fenomenul ultras si Piața Universității. Bucuresti: Cartier.

Hooghe, M., and E. Quintelier (2013), “Political Participation in European Countries: The Effect of Authoritarian Rule, Corruption, Lack of Good Governance and Economic Downturn”, Comparative European Politics 12(2): 209–232.

Howard, M. M. /2003), The Weakness of Civil Society in Post-Communist Europe, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, Voter Turnout Romania, retrieved August 30, 2017 (https://www.idea.int/data-tools/question-countries-view/521/252/ctr).

Iordache, A. (n.d), “Major victory for civil society in Romania,” ERCAS, retrieved May 30, 2017 (http://www.againstcorruption.eu/articles/major-victory-civil-society-romania/).

Ivan, C. (2015), “The multitudes: From ideological disease to conceptual cure, in Baybars-Hawks, B. (eds), New Media Politics: Rethinking Activism and National Security in Cyberspace, Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, pp. 63-77.

Karklins, R. (2005), The system made me do it: corruption in post-communist societies, ME Sharpe.

Kopecky, P., and C. Mudde, (eds. 2003), Uncivil Society? Contentious Politics in Post-Communist Europe, London: Routledge.

Kostadinova, T. (2012), Political Corruption in Eastern Europe, Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner.

Kriesi, H., Koopmans, R., Duyvendak, J. W., and M. Giugni (1992), “New social movements and political opportunities in Western Europe”, European journal of political research, 22(2): 219-244.

Libertatea Online (2017), retrieved May 30, 2017

(https://www.libertatea.ro/ultima-ora/cel-mai-mare-protest-fata-de-oug-13-anuntat-pentru-duminica-in-capitala-sunt-asteptati-1-000-000-de-oameni-1734405).

Margarit, D. (2016), “Civic disenchantment and political distress: the case of the Romanian Autumn”, East European Politics, 32(1): 46-62.

Marica, I. (2017), “PM says Romania may try to revoke Rosia Montana’s UNESCO nomination, Romania- Insider.com, retrieved August 30, 2017 (https://www.romania-insider.com/pm-rosia-montana-unesco-nomination/).

McAdam, D. (1982), Political process and the development of black insurgency, 1930-1970, Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

McAdam, D., Tarrow, S. and C. Tilly (2001), Dynamics of Contention, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

McAdam, D., and S. Tarrow (2011), “Introduction: Dynamics of contention ten years on”, Mobilization: An International Quarterly, 16(1): 1-10.

McAdam, D. (2013), Cognitive Liberation. The Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social and Political Movements. DOI: 10.1002/9780470674871.wbespm030.

McLaughlin, D.l. (2015), “Protests to continue as Romania searches for new government,” Irish Times, November 7.

Mercea, D. (2014), "Towards a conceptualization of casual protest participation: parsing a case from the Save Roşia Montană campaign", East European Politics and Societies 28(2): 386-410.

Merkel, W. (1998), "The consolidation of post‐autocratic democracies: A multi‐level model", Democratization, 5(3): 33-67.

Mungiu-Pippidi, A. 2017, Questions and Answers on Romania’s Anticorruption Implosion, retrieved May 30, 2017 (https://www.romaniacurata.ro/questions-and-answers-on-romanias-anticorruption-implosion/).

Nepstad, S. E. (1997), “The Process of Cognitive Liberation: Cultural Synapses, Links, and Frame Contradictions in the US‐Central America Peace Movement”, Sociological Inquiry, 67(4): 470-487.

Olteanu, T. (2012). Korrupte Demokratie?: Diskurs und Wahrnehmung in Österreich und Rumänien im Vergleich. Springer-Verlag: Wiesbaden.

Olteanu, T. (2016), “Corruption and favoritism in Romania”, in J. Leitner and H. Meissner (eds.),State Capture, Political Risks and International Business, Cases from Black Sea Region Countries, London: Routledge, pp. 155-170.

Petitienonline.com (2012), Noi, VIERMII – inepti, inculti si ciumpalaci - PROTESTAM!, retrieved May 30, 2017 (https://www.petitieonline.com/noi_viermii_inepti_inculti_si_ciumpalaci_-_protestam).

Polletta, F., P. Chen, B. Grander and A. Motes (2013), "Is the Internet creating new reasons to protest." in J. Van Stekelenburg, C. Roggeband, and B. Klandermans (eds.), The future of social movement research: Dynamics, mechanisms, and processes, University of Minnesota Press, pp. 17-36.

Proiectul Ordonanței de urgență privind grațierea unor pedepse (2017), retrieved May 30, 2017 (http://www.just.ro/proiectul-ordonantei-de-urgenta-privind-gratierea-unor-pedepse/).

Romania Curata (2012): “Civil society sides with the street” January 18.

Romania Curata (2015): ”Tăcerea ucide. Ne vedem în stradă!” March 22, retrieved August 30, 2017 (https://www.romaniacurata.ro/tacerea-ucide-ne-vedem-in-strada-prima-lista-de-revendicari-a-grupurilor-civice-si-protest-joi-in-piata-universitatii/).

Siani-Davies, P. (2007), The Romanian Revolution of December 1989. Cornell University ress, 2007.

Simon, B., Loewy, M., Sturmer, S.,Weber, U., Freytag, P., Habig, C., Kampmeier, C., and Spahlinger, P. (1998), “Collective identification and social movement participation”, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74(3): 646–658.

Snow, D. (2013), “Identity dilemmas, discursive fields, identity work & mobilization: Clarifying the identity/movement nexus”. in J. Van Stekelenburg, C. Roggeband, and B. Klandermans (eds.), The future of social movement research: Dynamics, mechanisms, and processes, University of Minnesota Press, pp. 263–280.

Standard Eurobarometer 62, 74, 86, retrieved September 30, 2017

(http://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/archives/eb_arch_en.htm).

Stoiciu, V. (2016), Romania’s Trade Unions at the Crossroads, Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung, retrieved September 30, 2017

(http://anticromania.ro/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Studiu.pdf).

Sutherland, N., C. Land, and S. Böhm (2014), "Anti-leaders (hip) in Social Movement Organizations: The case of autonomous grassroots groups", Organization 21(6): 759-781.

Tänzler, D., & Maras, K. and A. Giannakopoulus (eds. 2016), The social construction of corruption in Europe, London: Routledge.

Tarrow, S. (1996), “States and Opportunities: The Political Structuring of Social Movements”, in McAdam, D., McCarthy, J., and M. Zald (eds.), Comparative Perspectives on Social Movements, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 41–61.

Tarrow, S. (1998) Power in Movement: Social Movements and Contentious Politics, 2nd edition, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Tatar, M. I. (2015), “Rediscovering protest: reflections on the development and consequences of the early 2012 Romanian protests”, Journal of Identity and Migration Studies, 9(2): 62-85.

Teorell, J. (2006), “Political participation and three theories of democracy: A research inventory and agenda”, European Journal of Political Research, 45(5): 787-810.

The Economist (2017), “Huge protests force Romania’s government to reverse itself on corruption”, February 11.

The Economist (2012), “Free Falling”, February 7.

The Economist (2015), “Collective responsibility”, November 12.

The World Bank (2017), Worldwide Governance Indicators, retrieved August 30, 2017 ( http://info.worldbank.org/governance/wgi/index.aspx#home).

Tran, M. (2015), “Bucharest nightclub fire: PM and government resign after protests,” The Guardian, 4 November.

Transparency International (2016), Corruption Perceptions Index, retrieved September 30, 2017 (https://www.transparency.org/news/feature/corruption_perceptions_index_2016).

Treisman, D. (2003), “Postcommunist corruption”, in Campos, N. F., and J. Fidrmuc (eds.), Political economy of transition and development: institutions, politics and policies, Berlin: SpringerScience & Business Media, pp. 201-226.

Trif, A. (2014), Austerity and Collective Bargaining in Romania National report: Romania, retrieved September 30, 2017,

(http://www.research.mbs.ac.uk/ewerc/Portals/0/docs/SDDTEC/Romania%20Final.pdf).

Vesalon, L, and Creţan, R. (2015), "‘We are not the Wild West’: anti-fracking protests in Romania," Environmental Politics 24(2): 288-307.

World Values Survey Association (2013), World values survey. 1995-2014, retrieved September 30, 2017, (http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/).


Full Text: PDF

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.
کاغذ a4

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribuzione - Non commerciale - Non opere derivate 3.0 Italia License.