Moldovans. A (de)constructed nation

The Republic of Moldova is an exceptional state. It was the only Soviet republic to proclaim independence, on 27 August 1991, in order to become part of another state, i.e. Romania, rather than building its own independent political future. After the civil war, the break-up of the common state and the de facto collapse of the unification project, the newly established Moldova found itself in an ideological vacuum. With no experience of statehood, no coherent historical narrative or responsible political elites, and with a nation that was unsure of its identity, it set off on a long march in search of an idea that could define the shape of its statehood and the direction of its future development. Twenty-five years on, the social and political project called the Republic of Moldova is experiencing a grave crisis. The Moldovan statehood remains fragile and seemingly impermanent. The country’s successive governments have not been able to build effective state institutions or create adequate conditions for economic development. After years of structural and economic weakness, today’s Moldova as led by Vlad Plahotniuc, the country’s most powerful politician and businessman, is a typical post-Soviet oligarchy ruled by a narrow clique interested mainly in protecting its own political and business interests.

Plural : History. Culture. Society = Istorie. Cultură. Societate, 2023

Przegląd Strategiczny, 2012

"With control over the state in the hands of Filat and Plahotniuc questions are raised regarding the prospects of Moldova’s real modernisation. It will also have a negative impact on the process of implementation of Moldova’s Association Agreement with the EU and on other key reforms concerning, for example, the judiciary, the financial sector and the process of de-politicisation of the state’s institutions. From both leaders’ perspective, any changes to the current state of affairs would be tantamount to limiting their influence in politics and the economy, which would in turn challenge their business activities. An attempt at building of what seems to be a real pro-European alternative for the current ruling majority is being made by former prime minister Iurie Leancă. Leancă himself was prevented from staying on as prime minister for several reasons. These included his conflict with Vlad Filat and his willingness to push through reforms which would challenge the interests of the coalition leaders. However, it seems unlikely that Leancă’s attempts at creating his own strong political party could bear impact on the shape of Moldova’s political scene. Despite its instability, the political system which has evolved in Moldova in recent years will be extremely difficult to change. Filat and Plahotniuc, who are competitors both politically and in business, have regularly clashed and this is having a negative impact on the government’s stability and on the entire political scene. Still, both leaders are mainly focused on retaining power. This forces them to devise a modus vivendi within one ruling coalition which practically is tantamount to preserving the current system."

Helsinki University Press eBooks, 2024

Refuge: Canada's Journal on Refugees

Beyond Imagined Uniqueness: Nationalisms in Contemporary Perspectives,, 2010

Natalia Sineaeva-Pankowska brings to the fore even more dramatically the values that inclusiveness rather than uniqueness or unity can play in nation building in the post-Soviet era. A country always on the border of empires and nations, Moldova has stressed interethnic and religious peace, modifying a pan-Romanian or Soviet identity to that of an independent state built upon a common civic identity.