ABSTRACT
The modernization process started by the Romanian Communist Party (RCP) after its consolidation of power in 1947 occurred in a country which was characterized by a relatively undifferentiated social structure. The RCP had to contend with the existing social structure of the country and the existence of a rudimentary civil society, but perhaps its greatest obstacle was the virtual absence of support for Marxism in any of its major manifestations in the population at large. As Romania established the formal structures and procedures of a parliamentary system, it also began the process of formulating a rudimentary civil society. A revolutionary elite that aims to maintain itself in power must deal with the elements of civil society that confront it upon the capture of power. In Romania, virtually all strata of society have experienced downward social mobility in the sense that the standard of living has declined drastically for almost all citizens, regardless of social standing, expertise, occupation, or education.
