ABSTRACT
In December 1989, the West applauded both the courage of Romanian citizens as they fought to end the Ceausescu dictatorship and the sensibility of the country's army for joining the battle against Ccauscscu's Sccuritate. The lack of experience with anything like a competitive democracy was, from the moment Ceausescu was deposed, a debilitating condition. The Ceausescu regime cut back on television transmissions, and made newspapers and journals unappealing because of their crude propaganda and glorification of Romania's Conducator. Nevertheless, taking over and controlling the studios of Romanian Radio and Television was a key part of the December 1989 revolution. Romania is, after Ceausescu's overthrow and execution, no longer a tyranny. But, as events in mid-June sadly demonstrated, it is also a long way from being a democracy.
