Interpretations of the Romanian Revolution of 1989

Even almost 30 years after the historic events in Romania in 1989 commonly referred to as the revolution researchers still disagree about the nature of the overthrow of Ceausescu's dictatorship. This work is a contribution to the question of whether it was a pure popular uprising a coup d'état or rather a hybrid of the two. To support the thesis in connection with the latter possibility authors from Romania itself as well as from Western countries (e.g. Ruxandra Cesereanu and Antonia Rados) are quoted with the seizure of power by the National Salvation Front playing a central role. However the events in Timișoara which laid the foundations for the fall of the dictatorship as a pure popular revolt are also examined. Ultimately the aim is to show that both approaches have their raison d'être.