Prolegomena on the Romanian Capitalism

• Author: Stroe, F.
• Position: Bucharest University, Doctoral School of Sociology
• Pages: 49-58

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov

Series VII: Social Sciences • Law • Vol. 6 (55) No. 1 - 2013

PROLEGOMENA ON THE

ROMANIAN CAPITALISM

F<nel STROE1

Abstract: The capitalist man offers instead, also to the communist regime,

exactly what this system needs: the possibility of economic growth.

Key words: capitalism, human nature, competition, inductive rationality.

1 Bucharest University, Doctoral School of Sociology.

1. Introduction

In the 90s’, the Romanian society took

on a new road that was supposed to be the

road of prosperity, freedom and

democracy.

Clarifying the situation of the first 20

years of Romanian capitalism, taking into

account the aspirations of the Romanians,

the social mechanisms developed and the

diverse perspective of social transition, all

of these become a necessity when willing

to look towards a better future.

When looking back, there were moments

of vitality, sublimated sometimes or

devastating other times. Now, when the

ancient Western civilization prepares to

overcome the consequences of an

unprecedented spread global economic

crisis, Romania is forcing its own insertion

into capitalism, as unique remedy to

productivity growing. Thus, Romania tries

to find the most adequate ways to

reconstructing its own European identity.

2. The Human nature

It is surprising the fact that the most

long-drawn-out and the most efficient

socio-economic organization system is

built on the premise of a human nature that

is, if not evil, at least non-angelic.

However, the capitalism does not intend to

demonstrate the fact that men are or could

become better human beings, gifted with

full moral qualities and noble purposes.

In his book “The Passions and the

Interests”, Albert O. Hirschman depicts the

evolution of the human nature idea which

endows capitalism with dynamic feature,

purpose and meaning. Throughout several

centuries, capitalism renounced to follow,

identify and consecrate the human virtues,

observing that these ones were extremely

difficult to be found. Moreover, the news it

brings in is to stop the confrontation

between virtues and vice s. This is maybe

on the strength of willing to be the pioneer

of a new different road for humanity, a

storm-beaten humanity from the Church’s

political and authoritative perspective.

Wherever this regime was born, it came

from a political confrontation with an

establishment, offering more freedom of

action to the individuals.

This freedom of individual action

couldn’t have been manifested if the

purpose would have been, for example, the

creation of a brand-new man, more

virtuous and performing. Pr agmatically,