Magnificent it surely is, blessed as it is with both natural beauty and natural resources in abundance, yet it is also achingly poor after decades of communism and a period of ineffectual democracy that, according to some, leaves a lot to be desired. It is difficult to comprehend the extent to which Romania continues to struggle - is, indeed, very poor - so that its workforce is being constantly depleted as those able to seek a better life elsewhere leave for other European countries, and beyond.The roots of the current problems go back to before communism, alas, and to a feudal system that allowed a large proportion of the population to remain poorly educated and serf-like; this backward system was, I have been told, very slow to accept change and embrace modernisation, thus making it difficult for those at or near the bottom to survive and thrive. Just when the ruling classes began to comprehend and accept the need for change fascism reared its pretty little head, managing to throw another spanner in the works, derailing progress through violence and hitching Romania's fortunes to those of the Axis powers in WW2, therefore abandoning its 'natural' allies.
All this is history, of course, as is the arrival of the Russians, communism, the dictatorship of the Ceausescu family and their eventual fall from grace and summary execution without trial. This history, however, holds the key to the country's current predicament, as not only did the communists wipe out or force into exile an entire generation of people equipped to lead an orderly modernisation and then manage the country, they also perpetuated a variation of the feudal system but with the Party and its elite at its core. Often these people were extremely ill-equipped to understand and make complex economic decisions with long-term implications, so short-termism and corruption based on ideology took hold. This has been extremely destructive.Whilst it is extremely easy to annihilate a ruling minority or class, it is conversely almost impossible to create such out of nothing; time is needed when it is least available. It is especially difficult to expect these 'newbies' to bring about positive change if they have never known anything other than a rigid, corrupt system based on expecting 'progress through ideology'. And that is where Romania seems to be now, unable to move properly forward for the lack of leaders who will put their country, and not themselves and their narrow interests, first. People are want to hold on to power once they've tasted it, though, and the remnants of the Communist Party here appear to be no exception, acquiring new faces/images/personas in their quest to reinvent themselves and hold on. Alas their greed for power is probably the main thing dragging their country down.
Of course this is a personal view from the outside looking in and talking to - only a few, admittedly - people, so it may not be entirely accurate nor, indeed, is it intended to be comprehensive. It goes some way to explaining, though, how a country that is so fertile, beautiful, with high-quality petroleum and an workforce should struggle so badly. Driving around the place one sees a population closer to its largely peasant past, mired in poverty not seen in Western Europe, signs of decline and degradation everywhere. It is a shame as I believe there is huge potential in Romania, if only they can get their 'demons' under control. For my part I promise not to write another word on the general subject until I have done more extensive research and have more detailed facts at my fingertips.Before I close I should let you know that Romanian wine, long largely an indifferent drink for those in the know, is making headway, if slow. Certainly at the lower end there appear to be gluggable wines, but more research is needed before I can give you, my faithful reader, an accurate picture; this I promise solemnly to do as soon as practicable!
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