Bitkova Tatiana Georgievna – PhD in Philology, Leading Researcher, INION RAN
The main place in the article is devoted to the protests of the last decade, but with a reference to the 1990s, when civil society began to emerge during the protest movement in Romania. It is noted that later the mobilization activity of the population decreased. However, the experience gained in the 1990s has not been wasted. This was demonstrated by the massive demonstrations against the economic policy of the authorities in 2009–2012, which, following IMF recommendations, intended to implement measures that would lead to the deterioration of the economic situation of the population. The central place is devoted to the mass demonstrations of 2017–2018, which swept the whole country and showed the strength of civil society, which was able to resist the initiatives of the authorities to soften the legislation in relation to corruption cases. It is true that in the end, despite the tough con-frontation between the protesters and the forces of law and order, it was not possible to achieve fundamental changes in the nature of political power, satu-rated with corruption. Attention is paid to street manifestations of recent years, which were not massive, but played a certain role in adjusting legal reforms and economic policy, and also influenced changes in the power structure. The events described in the article reflect the tension of the Romanian public life, which does not correspond to the perception of some analysts and historians about apathy and indifference, which, allegedly, are traditionally characteristic of the Romanian society.
Romania, protests, mobilization, economy, politics, corruption.
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