It has been said that Moldova is the most understudied country in Europe. At
least within some academic fields this can no longer be held as true. An entire
literature dealing with Moldovan history, society and politics has
emerged over the last two decades. Of specific interest to researchers and
popular writers alike has been the diffuse form of the Moldovan nation, the
result of successive nation-building efforts. This study draws together the
literature on Moldovan national identity and relates it to political developments
in general and democracy in specific – the latter an area where Moldova
has fared much better than its weak preconditions would suggest.
This dissertation has its distant origins in a study exchange trip to Moldova
in November 1999. In hindsight it was one of those moments when, to
quote Robert Frost, ?two roads diverged in a wood?. A chance occurrence
led me to go down the Moldovan path, a choice which I have never regretted.
During more than eleven years of study, I have witnessed Moldova
through numerous difficult periods, from repeated economic and financial
crises caused by the enormous social consequences of the transition to severe
international and domestic political conflicts. Amidst all this, the internal
discussion about whom the Moldovans are, has never ceased and is likely to
continue causing dividing lines amongst the population for years to come.
Despite these thorny issues, democratization efforts have continued, and
Moldova has repeatedly demonstrated a great propensity to endure numerous
hardships. It is my humble observation, therefore, that much of the potential
of the country and its population is yet to be realized.