THE FRAGILITY OF ROMANIAN DEMOCRACY: REMEMBERING PROFESSOR DANIEL BARBU AND THE LESSONS WE FAILED TO HEED
THE FRAGILITY OF ROMANIAN DEMOCRACY: REMEMBERING PROFESSOR DANIEL BARBU AND THE LESSONS WE FAILED TO HEED

Summary/Abstract: This article examines Daniel Barbu’s contributions to both the theoretical andpractical dimensions of democracy, exploring why democracy in Romania appears to bein crisis. Professor Barbu consistently warned about the fragile state of Romanian democracy,emphasizing that it requires continuous care, nurturing, and active engagement from citizens,the academic community, and politicians alike. He argued that democracy is never afinished project — it is always evolving and must be subject to constant scrutiny, critique,and renewal. By revisiting Barbu’s manuscripts and lecture notes, this article analyzesthe current state of democracy in Romania, particularly in the context of its recent downgradeto a “hybrid regime” in the 2024 Democracy Index published by The Economist IntelligenceUnit (EIU). Through this lens, the paper underscores the relevance of Barbu’s warningsand the urgent need to reassess and strengthen Romania’s democratic institutions.

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