Dissidence within the Soviet Bloc : the case of Romania

This study examines why Romania\u27s dissidence within the Soviet bloc has not provoked a military response from the Soviet Union during the 1965-1985 period. The hypothesis assumed is that Soviet tolerance is granted to Romania in exchange for its internal orthodoxy. Based on English and Romanian sources of information and on the author\u27s experience having lived in Romania, the following factors are analyzed: Party internal control, its organization, leadership and ideology. The study concludes that Romania\u27s internal orthodoxy, closely resembling Soviet society, has neutralized the country\u27s dissident foreign policy saving it from a Soviet military intervention