CULTUL VIOLENŢEI ÎN PRACTICA PUTERII. AROMÂNII LEGIONARI ŞI NOUL „MODEL” DE STAT (1940-1944)
CULT OF VIOLENCE IN THE PRACTICE OF POWER. LEGIONARY AROMANIANS AND THE NEW STATE “MODEL” (1940-1944)

Summary/Abstract: Having come to power in September 1940 − amidst the political crisis − the Iron Guard, in alliance with Ion Antonescu and his collaborators, has instituted a regime in which the power duality has generated both institutional and personal conflicts, and has stressed further the exceptional condition caused by the war context. Without being a distinct structure, based on the model of the Fraternities of the Cross, of the Legionary Workers’ Corps or the Legionary Students Corps, the group of Aromanians played an important role in the institutionalization of violence and in the increase of power nuclei in the state. Part of the Iron Guard as far back as the ’30s, the Aromanians have taken advantage of political opportunities, personal ties and of the “benefits” of belonging to a closed group in order to ascend rapidly in the social and economic hierarchy between September 1940 and January 1941. With the support of Constantin Papanace, they have become a group of force within the Iron Guard, being influential within ministries, enterprises, banks; they have determined, up to a certain point, Romania’s political and diplomatic strategy in its relations with Greece and with the Balkans in general. Albeit with slight differences, they have constantly expressed their support for the project of an independent Macedonia under Italian tutelage, that would provide their own home warranty. Then, they have had a tortuous relationship with the Romanian State and with Antonescu’s government. Some were willing to return to Macedonia, while others had projects of staying on in the country, continuing the struggle to take over the power, and, after the “rebellion”, the collaboration with Ion Antonescu transformed into a game of harassment. Neither politically, ideologically or economically did they represent a homogeneous group, but they did know how to maintain a coherent and articulate appearance in what concerns major problems, of common interest.

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