ABSTRACT
Inter-ethnic tensions emerged in many post-communist countries as a “new” issue after the collapse of the communist systems. The media started to report about “minorities”, and about the emergence of new NGOs. The social change in 1989 not only led to a confusion in the entire society and provoked the establishment of all the ethnic organizations, it also produced a tremendous activity in the media. This system of complacency and unilateral communication experienced a major shock when the communist system collapsed and plural media input entered the Romanian scene. The majority of ethnic Romanians played the role of the spectator, at least in the beginning. The majority was driven between the desire to become cosmopolitan players in the world and the romantic notion of revitalizing their Romanian heritage. This trend towards rejuvenating the heroic times of Romanian history has its cultural roots. Romanian history can be interpreted as a permanent struggle for cultural as well as political independence.
