A Brief Survey of Some Post-Warsaw Pact States

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The Warsaw Pact was the document that bound the Soviet satellite states permanently to the USSR. It was created in response to NATO, and the political borders of the Warsaw states signified exactly where the Iron Curtain fell across Europe. Although the Soviet Union let go of its influence over many nations in the two years before its dissolution, there are still areas of the Russian Federation that are trying to become autonomous. The infighting that has occurred as provinces attempt to become their own countries has slowed the Russian economy, and in trying to rectify this problem the Russian government has become more centralized and undemocratic. In contrast to Russia, many of the other states that were bound by the Warsaw Pact have become more democratic and ‘westernized’. East Germany not only became part of the West but rejoined its other half to constitute a Greater Germany well in tune with the West. Romania, which has never been a completely democratic country, has also become more European, having their first open elections ever in 1989. While the Warsaw states have moved forward with great zeal, the fate of Russia has been to stumble at every turn.

Russia has not had a smooth ride since the Soviet Union dissolved December 26, 1991 and was replaced by the Russian Federation along with 14 other republics. Twice since the Russian Federation formed has there been an attempt at a coup d’etat, both of which have failed miserably. This goes to show how disorganized the opposition has been in Russia. The first Russian president, Boris Yeltsin, tried to completely reform the country constitutionally and economically. In order to receive international funding the government had to liberalize the economy, which plunged Russia into hyperinflation as the government tried to squeeze all of the built up pressure in the economy out. This would intensely polarize the population, creating a class of very rich oligarchs who controlled 13% of the country’s GDP while wiping out many people’s life savings and pushing them into poverty. There is still not a very big middle class in Russia.

Control of these economic reforms created a standoff between Yeltsin and the Russian parliament in 1993, at which point he tried to dissolve the parliament (a power he did not have). The aftermath of all the political and physical fighting was Yeltsin remaining president, the ban of political leftist and nationalist parties, a new constitution was pushed through the parliament making the presidency stronger by giving it the power to issue decrees and dismiss the prime minister.Yeltsin’s successor, Vladimir Putin has centralized the government even more. With the creation of the FSB to replace the KGB, Russia has become a veritable police state. Russia now has a hierarchical, pyramid government, with the electoral politics favoring the incumbent heads of government. As time goes on Russia is reverting back to a highly centralized quasi-dictatorship.

French Press Memos: Christmas Traditions, the Romanian Way

I have no recollection of the first moment I tasted it. I hardly remember learning to make it. But I will never forget the sensory overload that the scent of this dish shoved my into every single time it flooded out of the oven. Warm, sweet, sour, bacony, seasoned with thyme, bay leaves, peppercorn, complete with onions, garlic, the sauerkraut cabbage roll - sarmale - is ever present during the holiday season in any Romanian home. For the past ten years, I have rolled up my sleeves and made that dish here in Denver. I made it because it would never be Christmas without it. I made it to get myself high on the scent that comes out of the oven while it cooks. I made it because I craved eating it next to the Christmas tree. And in the process, I got a few new family members hooked on it. Somehow though, the food of my childhood, the Romanian food, my grandma's dishes are not what I am focusing on in the kitchen. I find no need to spend my time perfecting Romanian dishes. I don't use recipes for Romanian recipes- they are simply part of me. And I have a hard time sharing them for two reasons -first, I just don't have a written recipe- I make it up, every time. Also, I am not exactly sure how much interest it would garner (the humble way to describe my feeling) or how much appreciation you would have for it (the snarky way to describe my feeling). Ingredients: 2 large cabbage heads; about 1/2 cup canola oil for sauteeing; 2 pounds 85% lean ground beef (pork in Romania; I adjusted for the Jewish guy I married); 2 large slices of bread; 1/4 cup milk; 2 large eggs; 2 large onions, finely chopped; 4 large garlic cloves, minced; 5 tablespoons rice; 4 tablespoons thyme leaves, finely chopped, plus 5-6 springs; 1 cup tomato sauce; 4 ounces of bacon, sliced; 4 bay leaves; 1 teaspoon whole peppercorns; 32 ounce jar of sauerkraut; salt and pepper to taste. The real trick is the cabbage. Back in Romania, we did this with sauerkraut. No - not the kind you buy in a jar at the chain grocery store or that plastic bag at your fine food grocer. Every fall, whole cabbages get the salt water treatment in Romania in giant containers that are left in cool dark pantries. These cabbages are perfectly sour, still crunchy, yet softened by Christmas. But that is back in Romania and we're not there. Well, I may actually be there while you are reading this, but I digress. Remove the leaves from the cabbage trying to keep them intact.

Transylvania

A political history of Romanian colinde (carols).

The Economist

Revolution of the heart

All about Christmas