Survey finds nostalgia for communism remains strong in Romania, many recall it as a better time
More than half of Romanians believe the communist regime was more of a good thing for Romania, with nearly 56% saying more positive than negative developments occurred under communism. The finding comes from a new INSCOP Research survey…
Irina Marica · Journalist
· Updated · 4 min read
More than half of Romanians believe the communist regime was more of a good thing for Romania, with nearly 56% saying more positive than negative developments occurred under communism. The finding comes from a new INSCOP Research survey commissioned by the Institute for the Investigation of Communist Crimes and the Memory of the Romanian Exile (IICCMER), shedding light on the enduring nostalgia for the regime of Nicolae Ceaușescu.
The poll, conducted between June 25 and July 3, also shows that 66.2% of respondents believe Ceaușescu was a good leader for Romania. Only 24.1% consider him a bad leader. The view is especially widespread among older Romanians, those with primary education, residents of rural areas, and people with lower incomes.
When asked whether life was better under communism than today, nearly half of respondents (48.4%) said yes, compared to 34.7% who said it was worse. Meanwhile, 65.1% believe there was less corruption under communism than there is now, and 75.1% think public safety was better before 1989.
On the issue of freedom, however, the contrast is stark: 80.9% said there was less freedom under the communist regime.
Remus Ștefureac, director of INSCOP Research, warns that nostalgia for communism stems not only from perceptions of the past but also from frustration with the present. "This longing reflects structural discontent - inequality, corruption, and pessimism about the future - and acts as a coping mechanism. […] But it's also fueled by disinformation and manipulation, both from internal populist forces and foreign actors aiming to destabilize democratic systems," he said.
He called for urgent public policies to address these issues, along with more robust education about the realities of the communist era.
Meanwhile, Daniel Șandru, executive president of IICCMER, went further, describing communist nostalgia as a national security issue.
"We are one step away from a catastrophic scenario," he said, noting that the danger lies in inaction. "We need a memory pedagogy that leaves academic circles and reaches communities, families, and digital platforms where today's beliefs are formed."
Despite the harsh realities of daily life during communism, such as rationing, travel restrictions, and censorship, many Romanians still view the past through a lens of idealized memory. Some 85.1% believe food was healthier under communism, and 66.4% think the state took better care of its citizens. The efficiency of state institutions is another area where the past is favored: 58.7% say they functioned better before 1989.
