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Sociological School of Bucharest's Publications and the Romanian Political Propaganda in the Interwar Period

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Bogdan Bucur at National School of Political Science and Public Administration
Bogdan Bucur
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Abstract

This study aims to analyze the ideological orientation of two of the most important interwar Romanian publications endorsed by Academician Dimitrie Gusti and scientifically sanctioned by the Sociological School of Bucharest: Curierul Echipelor Studenţeşti [Student Teams Courier, issued between 1935 and 1938] and Curierul Serviciului Social [Social Service Courier, issued in 1939]. The two magazines played an important part in strengthening the personality cult of King Carol II (who ruled in Romania between 1930 and 1940) and in legitimizing his regime of monarchical authority, established in February 1938. Moreover, the abovementioned publications were used by the monarchy to support the politico-ideological actions of the Romanian youth enlisted in the mass paramilitary organizations of the time, intended as an alternative to the similar structures of the Legionary Movement (which was experiencing a significant boom in the interwar period). The paramilitary youth organizations of the 1930`s, established under Carol II's regime – mobilizing en masse young people of all ages and levels of education, at first voluntarily and later compulsorily – served as models or precursors for similar structures that would later be set up by the Communist Party, after its accession to power (March 6, 1945 – December 22, 1989) as a result of the Soviet military occupation.
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  • Anonymous