Romanian Dissent
Romanian Dissent

Summary/Abstract: Dissent, by its nature, is a challenge that amends the ideological system from within. The dissident criticizes from inside, the opponent from outside. But is there talk of opposition in a one-party system? It follows that, in former communist countries, the condamning of the regime started somewhat from similar ideological positions with those of the power, not from opposing positions. In addition, in the eyes of the West, the communist system did not seem so compromised as it appears in its true reality. It was not perceived as totalitarianism. It took some time and it took more consistency and sacrifice of the Eastern intellectuals to be heard and understood. The only chance of dissent was contesting ideological principles by small steps policy, within the ideology, forcing its limits of tolerance. Moreover, most of the dissidents were communist themselves, now more or less confident in doctrine, and their affiliation did not indulged much space for option.

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