Area Handbook for Romania

"Area Handbook for Romania" by Eugene K. Keefe, Donald W. Bernier, Lyle E. Brenneman, William Giloane, James M. Moore, Jr., and Neda A. Walpole is a comprehensive reference work written in the early 1970s. This handbook focuses on providing a detailed overview of Romania's political, social, and economic structures during the communist era, particularly under the leadership of Nicolae Ceausescu. It aims to furnish military and other personnel with objective and factual information about the country as it sought to assert its independence from Soviet influence. The opening of the handbook includes a foreword and a preface outlining its purpose and objectives. It provides a historical context, noting Romania's transformation from a kingdom to a communist state post-World War II, and discusses the challenges faced as the country attempted to navigate its autonomy within the Eastern European communist bloc. The authors highlight Romania's initial alignment with the Soviet Union, the eventual pursuit of an independent foreign policy, and the consequences of these political maneuvers on the social and economic fabric of Romanian society during the early 1970s. The stage is set for a comprehensive exploration of the various components of Romanian life, from governance to daily living conditions, as the handbook progresses.