Romania Essay
Romania Essay
Cultural analysis
Harlequin was founded in 1949. In its early years the company published a wide range of American and British paperbacks, including mysteries, Westerns, and cookbooks. It was not until 1957 that Harlequin began buying rights from Mills & Boon, a British publisher of romance fiction that started in 1909. Mary Bonnycastle, wife of the founder, noticed the enormous popularity of "these nice little books with happy endings," and suggested the company concentrate on them. By 1964 Harlequin was publishing romance fiction exclusively¡¨ (Eharlequin history). The company wants to export the Harlequin Romance Stories to Eastern Europe, Romania being the first country Harlequin chose to trade their products with.
Romania ¡§became independent following the 1878 Berlin Congress. It gained territory after World War I, but lost some to the Soviet Union and Bulgaria in 1940. When Soviet troops entered the country in 1944, King Michael dismissed the pro-German regime and backed the Allies¡¨ (Freedom house 1-3). In 1945, he was forced to accept a Communist-led coalition government. The autarkic economics and repressive governance of Communist strongman Nicolae Ceausescu devastated Romania during his rule from 1965 to 1989. On December 25, 1989, Ceausescu was tried and executed following a popular uprising and palace coup by disgruntled Communists. A provisional government was formed under President Ion Iliescu, a high-ranking Communist and leader of the National Salvation Front (NSF). The 1992 parliamentary elections saw the NSF split between neo-Communist and more reformist members.
¡§In November 1996, the reformer, Emil Constantinescu, of the Democratic Convention of Romania (CDR), defeated Iliescu with 54.41 percent of the votes while Ion Iliescu scored 45.59 percent in the presidential elections. The CDR won 122 seats in the chamber of deputies (lower house) and 53 seats in the senate. Iliescu¡¦s Party of Social Democracy of Romania (PDSR) won 91 seats in the lower house and 41 seats in the senate¡¨ (Freedom 1-3). Victor Ciorbea, a lawyer, former labor leader, and ex-mayor of Bucharest, was chosen prime minister to lead the coalition government. In March 1998, Ciorbea resigned and Radu Vasile, secretary general of the National Peasant Party Christian Democratic became prime minister.
¡§Romania¡¦s frustration about its economic position has created a lack of confidence and support for Constantinescu¡¦s...