Paper short abstract:

The paper re-reads the two histories of Romanian ethnology published during Communism (Gheorghe Vrabie, 1968 and Ovidiu Bîrlea, 1974), exposing the political side of these works as moral compromise and as profitable participation in the larger political game of the time.

Paper long abstract:

The paper re-reads the two histories of Romanian ethnology published during Communism (Gheorghe Vrabie, 1968 and Ovidiu Bîrlea, 1974), exposing the political side of these works as moral compromise and as profitable participation in the larger political game of the time. Although these authors enjoy distinct reputations (Vrabie is regarded as a rather “obedient” researcher, while Bîrlea is seen more as the ”steppenwolf” of his generation, a dissident and antiestablishment figure), both histories produce explanations, make evaluations, use concepts and perspectives that actually synthesize and strengthen the epistemic principles of communist ethnology. While both authors seek not to abandon the rigors of an honorable disciplinary discourse, they prove sincere and honest in perpetuating the nationalist and sometimes exceptionalist views of the interwar period, in which both Vrabie and Bîrlea were formed as intellectuals and which were reactivated by communist/ nationalist propaganda of the 70’s. Caught in this kind of ”game”, Vrabie and Bîrlea share much more than they were ever ready to admit. Moreover, since institutional, disciplinary and intellectual traditions are strong, some of the communist epistemic values still survive in euphemized, disguised forms, mostly connected to the problems of heritage and national identity.