Regime change and cultural heritage protection, a matter of state security

Abstract

In the course of the second half of the twentieth century, the consolidation of the institutional and normative framework in heritage protection and preservation was marked by continuity in Western European societies. This meant that heritage lists, and in particular, the values for which assets had been listed, were not subjected to major changes or revisions. However, in 1989, this opportunity was provided to former socialist European countries once their regimes had become obsolete. In this context, not only was history reassessed but opportunities emerged that allowed the opening of a new chapter in the politics of heritage preservation. The current paper discusses the continuities and discontinuities of heritage legitimisation following the dismissal of the communist regime in Romania. In particular, it focuses on the impact of the historical break of 1989, as well as the transition, on the heritage evaluation and listing processes. The role of the state in these processes will be questioned against the background of a fragile institutional and normative framework.

Keywords:

• regime change
• communism
• transition
• heritage lists
• Romania

Notes

1. For more details see the normative framework of 1974, which clearly defined criteria for the evaluation of national cultural heritage, A.C.N.S.A.S., File D013367/1, Norme-Cadru de evaluare a bunurilor din patrimonial cultural național [Norms for the evaluation of goods part of the national cultural patrimony].

2. It functioned as the Ministry of Culture throughout the duration of the regime, appearing under a variety of titles.

3. Among these to be mentioned the Ministerial Decree concerning the economic revitalisation and monetary stability 164/1948, the Law 119 of 1948 concerning the nationalisation of industrial companies, banks, insurance, mining and transportation companies, and the Decree 92 or 1950 concerning the nationalisation of properties.

4. Mission in Romania Protection of the Cultural Heritage, UNESCO August – September 1989. http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0008/000876/087699eb.pdf.

5. Interview conducted in June 2015 in Bucharest.

6. The National Office of Historic Monuments was reorganised under the Ministry of Culture following the OG 228/2000 Art. 30 (1).

7. Art.60 In Law 422/2001 published in M.Of. Part I. nr.407 24.07.2001, revised in 2006 and published in M.Of. Nr.938/2006.

8. These included: (1) archaeological monuments (2) monuments and ensembles of architecture, technical monuments (3) memorial buildings (4) monuments of arts, monuments and memorial ensembles (5) architectural reserves and of urbanism, historic places, parks and buildings. These would eventually be amended by the OG 2260 of 2008 as: archaeological, architectural, public monuments and commemorative/funeral monuments (OUG Nr.2260/2008, Annexa Nr.1. Methodological norms for listing and inventorying historic monuments, 2008, published in M.Of. Part I Nr.540 17.07.2008).