ABSTRACT

Examining the 1990-91 reforms is an opportunity to examine how the tension between the goals of agrarian reform and property restitution were dealt with in practice. Largely because of the efforts of two priests, Plaiesti and neighbouring Cheia had a strong co-operative movement. At its height, each village had its own mill, bakery and butchers, while the co-operative shops in nearby Turda sold the peasants' produce. There were youth and women's associations and even an American-style bowling alley which drew peasants from all over the region, to compete in ten pin bowling leagues. This chapter attempts to outline the social meaning of property ownership at a different point in Plaiesti's history. By seeking to create alliances with cautious smaller landowners, they were able to block seemingly genuine attempts to reform the collective on the ground that these were simply 'trying to set up another CAP'.