Crowther has produced an able overview of Romania, encompassing political and socioeconomic history as well as contemporary domestic and international circumstances of the Nicolae Ceausescu regime. Choice

This volume focuses on post-World War II Romania as a case study in state socialist politics. Crowther skillfully describes the consolidation of power following the inception of communist rule. He asserts that the current Romanian regime--and those of the other state socialist countries--can best be understood when viewed as integral elements in coherent political economies. Crowther analyzes developed national communism, placing contemporary Romania in the context of the international environment and exploring the impact of external factors on the domestic political system. Finally, he discusses the implications of the Romanian example for the study of state socialist political systems in general.