ROMANIA. WHAT A COUNTRY, WHAT A DESTINY...

摘要

In a country with remarkable resources taking account of its surface, population, and climatic conditions, contradictions shock any observer. Romania has all necessary conditions – even seashore and a long natural frontier marked by Danube rover – to be an economic power horse. In this context, I take a look to Switzerland, country with 7 months of winter per year and a harsh mountain landscape, but with a unique economic position in the world. But Romania's potential is only that, nothing more. Reality makes it only a pipedream. First part of the paper gravitates around Romania's economic and social situation after 1990. There is shortly presented the situation peculiar to Romanian economy prior to 1989, December. Renowned schools, eng ineers, activities and an industrial and energetic base were to be met in Romania; while with the "wind of change" which blow communist regimes from European continent, there came a quite strange situation in this country. Romania's education and research systems have been steady eroded, seeming that actions taken in these fields were aimed only at this base's destruction. Industry faced a dramatic downturn (over 75% of prior to 1990 industry had been practically wiped out from the Romania's industrial and economic map). Markets which had been gained through sustained work and efforts during over three decades were abandoned for nothing, while the greatest part of ex-employees in Romanian industry headed to countryside – or worse – chose the emigration path. Romanian researches and education bases almost disappeared, with the incoming inevitable negative consequences: Romania's turn to archaic values and a society characterized by living in myths and prejudices. But this pessimistic tone is changed in second part of the paper. South K orea is mentioned as a successful example which could inspire R omania, while there are brought two examples which Romanian's ancestors passed through, bringing optimism for this country's f oggy short-past and precarious present. Solutions aiming at measures to be taken in agriculture, forest, industry, touristic areas are shortly presented. While the last paragraph focuses upon the role of education in changing mentality, in order to improve Romania's geopolitical position on the regional and world stage