Rolul istoriei orale în reconstituirea regimurilor totalitare
The Role of Oral History in Reconstituting Totalitarian Regimes

Summary/Abstract: In the 20th century a genuine revolution of sources took place in the field of history. Among these, one can easily mention oral sources. The importance given to one’s memory as a source in recovering the past generated adverse reactions, especially from the part of traditionalist historians. With the passing of time, oral history developed and created its own rules or adopted some of them from either psychology or sociology. Although there are certain problems in using oral sources, these can be easily overcome. Oral testimonies may constitute valid sources in recovering the past. The information they bring is all the more important for the study of totalitarian regimes as the “official” documents stand in poignant contradiction with the realities of living of that time. In these circumstances, if the protagonists of the events of the recent past are still alive and able to recount the history they lived through, it is important that they be listened to and that their testimony be recorded. In other words, their contribution should be considered as valuable as other types of sources.

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