Home » Uncategorized » 2011 Book Prize

2011 Book Prize

By in Uncategorized on .

Committee: Margaret Beissinger, Peter Wagner, Lavinia Stan.

The committee unanimously chosen Tom Gallagher’s Romania and the European Union: How the Weak Vanquished the Strong (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2009) as the best book in Romanian Studies published in English in 2009-2010. The study was a clear first choice because of its highly contemporary and relevant subject matter, original and provocative analyses, logical approach, and lucid style. Romania and the European Union is a remarkable account of how corruption penetrated Romania’s entry into the EU in 2007. It relates how the local elite not only managed to orchestrate admission into the EU on the basis of an astonishingly minor set of changes but also how Romania has left promises of significant reform  unfulfilled. Gallagher’s own unparalleled familiarity with Romania and its politicians greatly informs his novel interpretations. Original and courageous in his interpretations, Gallagher masterfully integrates case study and EU accession study by laboriously identifying the various points of contention that surfaced during the years of negotiation over Romania’s entry to the EU and the ways in which all of those points were disregarded and even shoved aside. The Romanians involved in the EU discussions were able to pull the wool over the eyes of the anxious and uncertain EU leadership, gaining accession with only a measly agenda for reform. He shows how local figures falsely persuaded the EU that they would satisfy many of the economic criteria for membership, thus convincing the EU to disregard the violations that would occur and even those then taking place. Gallagher furnishes a disturbing account of the long-standing deceit and exploitation among Romania’s post-communist elite as well as the EU leadership’s inability to detect and counteract such conduct. Romania and the European Union is a major contribution to Romanian and European studies, a commanding and convincing monograph that is relevant far beyond Romania as the “West” and “East” Europes of the Cold War now seek to eliminate boundaries. EU accession has been the single most important historical event in post-communist Romania. It is fitting, then, that the SRS Book Prize be awarded to Gallagher, whose intrepid and chilling account of Romanian-EU maneuvers over the past ten years offers an extraordinary analysis of these events—an original and powerful reading that boldly confronts and challenges many of the conventional political views and insights. It is a truly great case study. Congratulations, Tom Gallagher, for this seminal and provocative contribution to Romanian Studies! Tom Gallagher taught in the Department of Peace Studies at the University of Bradford.

233 Comments

  4. I am very happy to read this. This is the type of manual that needs to be given and not the accidental misinformation that is at the other blogs. Appreciate your sharing this greatest doc.

  10. I needed to write you a very little observation to finally say thanks once again on your remarkable guidelines you have discussed in this article. This has been simply shockingly generous with people like you to offer unreservedly what exactly a few people could have advertised for an ebook to help make some profit for themselves, and in particular seeing that you could have done it if you wanted. The tips as well worked to become a easy way to fully grasp that other people online have similar fervor similar to mine to learn lots more concerning this issue. I believe there are several more enjoyable sessions ahead for individuals who looked over your site.

  13. Wonderful web site. A lot of useful information here. I’m sending it to several friends ans also sharing in delicious. And certainly, thanks for your effort!

  15. I’m not sure why but this weblog is loading incredibly slow for me. Is anyone else having this problem or is it a problem on my end? I’ll check back later on and see if the problem still exists.

  19. I really like what you guys are usually up too. This sort of clever work and reporting! Keep up the awesome works guys I’ve you guys to my own blogroll.

  21. I simply wanted to appreciate you once again. I am not sure the things I could possibly have used in the absence of the type of tips and hints documented by you relating to that situation. This was the daunting problem for me, but finding out a new specialised form you processed it forced me to leap with fulfillment. I am happier for the service and thus wish you find out what a great job your are providing training the rest by way of your website. Probably you haven’t got to know any of us.

  22. Thank you, I have recently been looking for info about this subject for a while and yours is the best I have came upon till now. But, what in regards to the bottom line? Are you positive about the supply?

  27. Hello! This post could not be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my old room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this page to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!

  29. Do you have a spam problem on this website; I also am a blogger, and I was curious about your situation; we have created some nice methods and we are looking to exchange techniques with other folks, why not shoot me an email if interested.

  38. Its good as your other content : D, thanks for putting up. “What makes something special is not just what you have to gain, but what you feel there is to lose.” by Andre Agassi.

  39. Great write-up, I am regular visitor of one¦s site, maintain up the nice operate, and It is going to be a regular visitor for a lengthy time.

  43. Undeniably believe that which you stated. Your favorite justification appeared to be on the web the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I certainly get annoyed while people think about worries that they just do not know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and also defined out the whole thing without having side-effects , people could take a signal. Will probably be back to get more. Thanks

  53. Can I just say what a reduction to search out somebody who actually knows what theyre talking about on the internet. You definitely know the way to deliver a problem to gentle and make it important. More people need to learn this and perceive this facet of the story. I cant consider youre not more widespread because you positively have the gift.

  55. This is the right blog for anyone who wants to find out about this topic. You realize so much its almost hard to argue with you (not that I actually would want…HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a topic thats been written about for years. Great stuff, just great!

  61. Good – I should definitely pronounce, impressed with your website. I had no trouble navigating through all tabs and related information ended up being truly easy to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it in the least. Reasonably unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or something, website theme . a tones way for your client to communicate. Excellent task..

  66. It’s appropriate time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy. I have read this post and if I could I desire to suggest you some interesting things or suggestions. Maybe you can write next articles referring to this article. I desire to read more things about it!

  68. Only wanna input on few general things, The website style is perfect, the written content is really fantastic. “Taxation WITH representation ain’t so hot either.” by Gerald Barzan.

  87. I¦ll right away seize your rss feed as I can’t to find your email subscription hyperlink or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Kindly permit me recognize so that I may just subscribe. Thanks.

  105. Hi , I do believe this is an excellent blog. I stumbled upon it on Yahoo , i will come back once again. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and help other people.

  112. Good day! I simply wish to give an enormous thumbs up for the great information you may have right here on this post. I will probably be coming again to your weblog for extra soon.

  113. Hey very cool site!! Man .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your site and take the feeds also…I’m happy to find a lot of useful info here in the post, we need develop more techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .

  115. Great ?V I should certainly pronounce, impressed with your website. I had no trouble navigating through all tabs as well as related info ended up being truly easy to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it in the least. Reasonably unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or anything, web site theme . a tones way for your client to communicate. Nice task..

  116. You actually make it seem really easy with your presentation however I in finding this matter to be really something that I believe I might never understand. It sort of feels too complex and very huge for me. I am looking ahead for your subsequent post, I?¦ll try to get the cling of it!

  117. I’ve been browsing online more than three hours today, yet I never discovered any interesting article like yours. It is lovely value enough for me. Personally, if all website owners and bloggers made excellent content as you probably did, the internet will probably be much more useful than ever before.

  125. Excellent post. I was checking continuously this blog and I am impressed! Extremely helpful information particularly the last part 🙂 I care for such information much. I was seeking this particular info for a very long time. Thank you and best of luck.

  159. You really make it appear so easy together with your presentation however I in finding this matter to be really something that I feel I might by no means understand. It sort of feels too complicated and very vast for me. I’m taking a look forward in your subsequent publish, I will attempt to get the hang of it!

  163. My partner and I absolutely love your blog and find many of your post’s to be just what I’m looking for. Would you offer guest writers to write content for yourself? I wouldn’t mind composing a post or elaborating on most of the subjects you write about here. Again, awesome website!

  188. I’ve been browsing online greater than three hours today, but I by no means discovered any fascinating article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all website owners and bloggers made excellent content as you probably did, the web will probably be much more helpful than ever before. “Baseball is 90 percent mental. The other half is physical.” by Lawrence Peter Berra.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published.