Romanian Protests And The Rise Of Direct Democracy

Thousands of protesters in Romania continue their anti-corruption fight, having already prompted a corruption decree retraction and the resignation of the justice minister. Described as one of the biggest protests since the fall of communism his op-ed from Politico states that, despite many similarities to Romania’s 1989 revolution "we are dealing with something new," where "a major shift is happening in civil society."

Accompanied by a brief timeline and summary of events, the two authors, Romanian political scientist Marius Stan and Vladimir Tismaneanu, show how the unabated protests in Romania might mark the rise of direct democracy.

"In Bucharest’s Victoriei Square, one of the main sites of protest, there are no loudspeakers; there is no pre-assigned dramaturgy. No right or left. It is an example of direct, participatory democracy," the authors point out.

The timely op-ed expresses hopefulness and determination, mirroring the perseverance of the protesters who appear on the streets despite heavy snow

"We want to avoid succumbing to wishful thinking, but we can’t help seeing what is happening in Romania as the start of a new chapter in global efforts to reinvent politics and root out corruption," the authors write.

Even though other movements, including Occupy Wall Street, fell short in offering a long-term boost to direct democracy, one hopes that this time, it's not just an ignis fatuus, and the Romanian protests will indeed have as wide-reaching an impact as the authors wish.