New Europe College Regional Program Yearbook 2001-2002

N.E.C. Yearbook 2001-2002
population represented reality, channeled their political action and
organized their social and cultural life.
4. Between “national awakening” and “social engineering”
4.1. “National revival” and “national backlash”
In spite of the institutionalization of a “mistaken” identity, for many
western observers, the events of 1988-1991 seemed to serve the purpose
of denying the difference between Moldovans and Romanians and
describing the idea of the Moldovan language and Moldovan nation as
linguistic and ethnic farces, invented in order to justify an annexation of
territory. In the summer of 1988, Basarabian intellectuals and a part of
the political elite (members of the Communist party) created the unofficial
movement The Democratic Movement for Supporting Perestroika. Again
in 1988, The Literary and Musical Club “Alexe Mateevici” was set up to
formulate the national and cultural claims of the ethnic majority. In 1989,
these two movements merged to become the Popular Front. In the period
1988-1991, most of their requirements were realized.
Identity claims satisfied in the period 1988-1991:
- Introduction of the Latin alphabet and declaration of the Moldovan
language as state language – August 31, 1989;
- Strengthening of the “Romanian-Moldovan linguistic identity” –
September 1, 1989;
- Adoption of Tricolor - 27 April 1990;
- Introduction of “History of Romanians” and “Romanian literature”
courses in the curricula – September 1990;
- Adoption of the national anthem: “Deºteaptã-te române” – May
23, 1990;
- Renaming of the country – May 23, 1991;
- Declaration of Sovereignty – June 23, 1991;
- Declaration of Independence – August 27, 1991;
- Declaration of the Romanian language as state language – August
27, 1997;
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