The Memory of Communism – Educational Resources for Understanding the Recent Past
The platform developed by the National Institute for the Study of Totalitarianism aims to provide 12th-grade students with a set of digital educational resources dedicated to the study of the history of communism in Romania. The materials are designed to support teachers and students in gaining a deeper understanding of the communist phenomenon, its social, political, and cultural consequences, as well as its impact on both individual and collective destinies. These resources are drawn from publications issued by the National Institute for the Study of Totalitarianism over the past 32 years, such as the journal Archives of Totalitarianism and the Encyclopedia of the Communist Regime.
The platform includes explanatory texts on the main concepts and mechanisms of the communist regime (abortion, imprisonment, censorship, nationalization, psychiatry, totalitarianism), as well as biographies of victims of the regime—whether dissidents (Corneliu Coposu, Doina Cornea, Paul Goma, Iuliu Hossu), members of religious groups (Adventists, Baptists, Pentecostals), or profiles of party leaders who shaped the regime’s policies. It also presents institutions affected by or created under communism (religious denominations, political parties, communist organizations, educational institutions) and major historical events such as the November 1946 elections, the miners’ revolt in Motru in 1981, the workers’ uprising in Brașov in 1987, and the 1989 Revolution and the collapse of the totalitarian system.
The project seeks to develop critical thinking, historical empathy, and civic awareness by offering students tools to analyze historical sources, identify mechanisms of manipulation, and reflect on the value of freedom and democracy. Through this project, students will gain a balanced and empathetic understanding of communism, strengthening collective memory and contributing to the formation of a generation capable of recognizing and rejecting modern forms of totalitarianism.