ABSTRACT
This article is about the struggle between memory and forgetting in post-totalitarian societies. It focuses on the fate, role, and impact of the opening of the communist party and secret police (Securitate) archives in Romania and explores the battle between those interested in a genuine break with the past and those who cultivate amnesia. The conclusion, based on the experience of the Romanian truth commission, is that coming to terms with the traumatic past is a criterion for a robust and credible democratic community.
