Cristian Pirvulescu on Romania's failed Europeanisation

Romania's Orthodox tradition is hindering its integration into the EU, writes politicial scientist Cristian Pirvulescu in the daily România Liberă, with an eye to the debate over Romania's accession to the Schengen Area: "Sociologists tell us ... that in historical terms the mentality, or better the culture and values of a community are the slowest to change. Romania's failing is that it hasn't managed to don a European identity. After a millennium of Orthodoxy, Europeanisation - a task that our elites either could not or did not want to share with 'the people' - has proved difficult. Many conservative and right-wing Europeans who fear the future and change repudiated the 'new barbarians'. At first our economic growth managed to overshadow these reactions. But now in the midst of the crisis, as the demons of the past are being resurrected, these Europeans are exerting pressure on Romania. ... Certainly, we could react in indignation in the name of our traditions and rebuff the West as it rebuffs us. But in fact if the West doesn't understand us it's because we're not able to communicate."

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