The Spectrum of Extremism in Romania: What Can History teach us in order to overcome today’s Hate Speech ?

The Romanian Diplomatic Institute together with the National Agency for Roma organized the academic conference titled “The Spectrum of Extremism in Romania: What Can We Learn from History?” The purpose was to raise awareness about rigorously documented perspectives on the Holocaust in Romania in the context of the resurgence of hate speech targeting the Roma and Jewish minorities.

The conference was opened by remarks from Liliana Popescu-Bîrlan, General Director of the Romanian Diplomatic Institute; Iulian Paraschiv, President of the National Agency for Roma; Dragoș Hotea, Secretary of State in the Prime Minister’s Chancellery; and Alexandru Florian, General Director of the “Elie Wiesel” National Institute for Studying the Holocaust in Romania.

“December 18 was declared by the United Nations as International Migrants Day. Romania is a country significantly affected by migration, with over 4 million Romanians having left the country in recent years. Additionally, the Roma and Jewish communities in Romania have their roots in migratory waves. Unfortunately, many of our fellow citizens who differ ethnically or religiously are negatively perceived as ‘different’ and stigmatized. Our duty is to learn from history’s lessons and to build an inclusive society that promotes respect for fundamental human rights, regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. I encourage you to continue spreading these themes and to overcome divisions and differences within society”, said Liliana Popescu-Bîrlan.

“Roma community members in Romania have been subject to racism not only now, amidst societal polarization, but throughout history. We have been organizing debates like this for a long time, but they often receive little interest from the mainstream media. A significant part of the population adheres to the ideas of the Legionnaires, commemorates or glorifies war criminals, despite existing legislation that penalizes such acts and despite the steps we are taking towards Holocaust education, strategies, and specialized institutions. This type of intolerance in society can only be addressed firmly and directly. Paradoxically, while 76-80% of citizens support NATO membership, 41% of young people aged 18-35 state they would agree with a totalitarian system. These are the challenges we face today”, stated Iulian Paraschiv.

The Main Themes Addressed During the Conference

The academic presentations focused on the deportation of Roma to Transnistria during World War II—a tragedy that continues to leave a profound mark on the collective memory of the Roma minority.

Dr. Viorel Achim, a scientific researcher at the “Nicolae Iorga” Institute of History, highlighted the ideological context in which actions against the Roma took place under the Antonescu government. In his presentation, Dr. Marius Cazan, a scientific researcher at the “Elie Wiesel” National Institute for the Studying the Holocaust in Romania, explored the specific elements of the deportations, emphasizing the arbitrary nature of discrimination and how it could extend to various social categories.

Dr. Codrin Tăut, a researcher at the Auschwitz Institute for the Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities, underscored that the atrocities of World War II resulted from several preliminary stages. He stressed the importance of identifying present-day warning signs that bear similarities to historical events and acting decisively and swiftly to prevent atrocities before they escalate.

Lastly, doctoral candidate Nicolae Furtună, a member of the Research Institute for the Quality of Life at the Romanian Academy, provided a sociological perspective on that era. His presentation emphasized the policies aimed at ethnic cleansing, grounded in eugenics.

All contributions during the conference shed light on the circumstances and factors that facilitated the rise of extremism in Romania during World War II. They detailed how the Roma and Jewish minorities were targeted by the racial extermination policies of the Antonescu regime.

It is crucial to draw lessons from history to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.



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