EBP Week 4 - Nicolae Ceausescu

This post will summarise chapter 16 of Victor Sebestyen's Revolution 1989: The Fall of the Soviet Empire. Fittingly titled Let Them Hate, the article provides a detailed journalistic account of Nicolae Ceausescu's oppressive regime in Romania. Sebestyen tells a tale of a nation expected to sing praises for the man pushing them into destitute. Similarly, both Ceausescu and the world believed the Romanian’s loved their ruler. This article sheds light on the extremities Romanian’s endured daily, the infiltration and control of their personal lives, the enforced hunger, poverty, death and abuse of the Ceausescu regime. The article also interestingly acknowledges his shaping-past, how did he get to where he was and why was he the way he was? The article draws the timeless question; what happens when a ruler becomes drunk and abusive with their power/influence? The article and history teach us that it is the people who suffer. 

The most important day in Ceausescu’s Romania was the 26th of January. A day dedicated to celebrating and commemorating the life and achievements of one man, Ceausescu’s birthday. To a nation like New Zealand where we constantly point out the flaws of our political leaders, call them out and have our say, it seems ridiculous that Romania would replace festivities such as Christmas with a day to honour their leader. The article emphasises the pure irony in this festivity, the Romanians are (obligatorily) festive for one day a year, coming together to celebrate the man who, for the other 364 days in the year, has placed them in poverty. Ceausescu lived by the Nazi ideal; One people, one Fuhrer. He was the best Romania had to offer, to glorify himself as the chosen one, was to glorify Romania. Inspired by men like Stalin, Kim Il-Sung and Mao, Ceausescu’s rule was transformed. His visits to both North Korea and China left him impressed by their personal style of rule and the cult status they enjoyed. He too would enjoy the status of a deified leader. Every image of Ceausescu was idealised. The posters and photographs produced for his 68th birthday were doctored to create a younger form. The press was careful never to emphasis his below-average height, for example, encounters with the French president Valery Giscard d’Estaing was staged and filmed in a way which minimised the height difference between the two rulers. All hell broke loose when a video of Ceausescu was cut too long and exposed him stuttering, scratching and blinking. While we can appreciate the efforts that went into maintaining this god-like persona, it is obvious that Ceausescu was a pretender and lapped up all the false flattery he received. Newspapers, obviously wrapped around Ceausescu’s finger, spilt slick tributes, Adrian Paunescu writes: “This is no flattery as we portray him. We love him for his struggle and his humanity. We love him, because the country is free under the Sun. One's soul has the urge to shower him with eulogies.” Ceausescu accumulated many cringe-worthy titles over his reign; The Giant of the Carpathians, The Source of Our Light, The Treasure of Wisdom and Charisma, to name a few. Ceausescu and his wife Elena found no humour in this defied treatment but rather revelled in it. 

Ceausescu had goals, he wanted Romania to be independent rather than interdependent, and to be free of any foreign debts. His commitment to fulfilling these goals prioritised the well-being of his people. He sacrificed his people in the name of Romania’s economic success. Policies were put in place to restrict the public. Amusingly, their Source of Light restricted their use of light and power to two hours a day. Food grown in their fertile and productive state was rationed sparingly and sold largely to foreign states. Hypothermia and starvation took countless Romanian lives. On the more extreme end of the scale, people died because of gas asphyxiation. Not due to suicide like one my expect in these impoverished conditions, but rather, due to leaving gas cookers on for heat and falling asleep. Ceausescu’s daughter Zoia claims to have advocated for better treatment of the poor with her father, but their wellbeing was not of his concern. His focus was on Romania the state, not the people, and also the preservation of his position of power. In some regards, Ceausescu pushed Romania back into the dark ages. The efficiency and industrialisation of agriculture regressed drastically. While the rest of the world was using tractors, Ceausescu enforced the use of scythes and sickles for harvesting to save money. Horses were bred to replace petrol run transportation and reduce oil consumption. While these practices do not seem particularly harmful, the fact that the general public saw none of the benefits of their cut-backs. All their efforts went back into the state, while the average person suffered. Ceausescu was deceptive, he abused his relationship with the Western and Eastern world for his gain. Ceausescu sold Soviet-made rocket and electronic systems to the US in return for Western weaponry which he resold to the Soviets. The linking theme here that everything must benefit Ceausescu and his personal goals for Romania.

The article sheds light on how Ceausescu became Ceausescu. He grew up poor and fell victim to the attractive Communist ideology. As the Iron Curtain fell over Europe, the Communist way offered hope to those who had only ever experienced hardship, but also an opportunity for leaders to exploit their people and reap the benefits of their sufferance. Ceausescu acted similarly to other dictators, he filled the top posts in the country with his friends and family (comparison can be drawn with Chavez), he instilled fear and kept order through a police state, however, in Ceausescu’s case he was internationally praised for it. The international community assumed that Ceausescu’s people loved him, while in reality they were too paralysed with fear to speak out. The West applauded Ceausescu as “one of the good Communists” and admired his stance of independence regarding the Soviet Union. Like his people, the international community praised Ceausescu under false-pretences. Ceausescu remains an important and memorable figure (like Hitler) in emphasising the extent to which the state can affect its people. Lord Acton’s famous word ring true; absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Victor Sebestyen. (2009). 'Let Them Hate'. Revolution 1989: The Fall of the Soviet Union (Ed.1, pp. 160-174). New York: Vintage Books, A Division of Random House, Inc.