Opposing Memories: Contest and Conspiracy over 1970s Romania

Abstract The history of Romanian dissidence during the Cold War often seems rather barren. Yet, as this article demonstrates, legacy opposition to communism is vexed with conflicts over ownership in a fragmented circle late era oppositional voices and actors. A daring attempt cross Danube by young German student 1970 an earthquake year 1977 provide historical backdrop these post-communist internecine battles conformity. prominence German-speaking community not accidental but itself commentary on structural problems related Romania. This article’s focus specific individuals – Anton Sterbling, Paul Goma, Carl Gibson, Herta Müller reveals differing interpretations opposition, diverse social fabric dissidence, long tail psychological memory after 1989.