Moldovans: Romania, Russia and the Politics of Culture FROM THE PUBLISHER
The first English-language book to present a complete picture of this intriguing east European borderland, The Moldovans illuminates the perennial problems of identity politics and cultural change that the country has endured. Throughout the past two centuries, Moldova was the object of a variety of culture-building efforts from Russian, Romanian, and Soviet influences before emerging as an independent state in 1991. The author highlights the political uses of culture--the ways in which language, history, and identity can be manipulated by political elites--and examines why some attempts to mold idnetity succeed where others fail. He also reveals why, in the case of Moldova, a project of identity construction succeeded in creating a state but failed to make an independent nation.
SYNOPSIS
Presents a complete picture of this east European borderland, illuminating problems of identity politics and cultural change that Moldova has endured. Highlights political uses of culture, looking at ways in which language, history, and identity can be manipulated by political elites, and examines why some attempts to mold identity succeed and others fail. King is an assistant professor in the School of Foreign Service and the Department of Government at Georgetown University, where he chairs the department of Romanian Studies. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR