Type | Thesis or Dissertation - doctor |
Title | European border-the new formed identities. The case of the Republic of Moldova |
Author(s) | |
Publication (Day/Month/Year) | 2011 |
URL | http://etabeta.univ.trieste.it/dspace/bitstream/10077/4449/1/Ungureanu phd.pdf |
Abstract | Before 1989, the Moldovan people have been a single nation, sharing a single, common identity. Now the situation has changed. Some of them consider that they are Romanians, but, due to the Soviet period, they have no possibility to feel the Romanian identity; others consider that they represent a distinct Moldovan nation, which is quite different from the Romanians; for some others, they know that have common ties with Romanians but, because the different evolution of the situation in the two countries, they consider that, today, they represent an independent nation; there are some, especially the residents of Transnistria, who consider that they have nothing to do with Romanians, even with Moldovans, because they represent a new people, distinct from Moldovans, or they consider themselves Russians. And all this is happening in the same country, the Republic of Moldova. Actually, the purpose of this thesis is the fact that on the European border there is a complex phenomenon, a “frozen” conflict, which lasted for more than eighteen years, and, still, a real and certain solution for its settlement does not exist. The conflict creates a security dilemma at the European border, because the Republic of Moldova is a border line between Latin and Slavic culture, between Europe and Russia; that is why it involves more attention from the international actors. As Williams A. shows “Moldova stands as a constant reminder that, even within Europe itself, there are places that are potentially not only economic and political disaster areas but, also, real threats to the wider security of the continent”[Williams 2004: 346]. In general, the states deal with the question of identity and belonging, but the new created Transnistrian identity deals with statelessness. That is why there is a direct relation between the new created political identities and the conflict settlement in the Republic of Moldova and its separatist region, Transnistria. That is why the present situation represents a critical problem for the future redrawing of the national and international borders. For the Republic of Moldova, Transnistrian separatist region remains the main security problem, which has negative repercussions to Moldova’s state independence and sovereignty, on economic, political and social level, as well as for all kind of international relations. The Republic of Moldova still remains the poorest country in Europe, being affected by the Russian crisis in 1998 and, now, being affecting by the global crisis, and would be difficult to redress its situation under these circumstances. If Moldova would choose the European path, it could mean losing Transnistria and losing the Russian market and cooperation. If it would choose the Slavic path, it could lose the democratization process, the country’s development and nobody could guaranty that the Transnistrian conflict will be settled. In other words, Moldova’s decision regarding its future is a very difficult issue. |
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