Power Networks in Romania during the Reign of Charles I: Family, Political and Economic Ties
Power Networks in Romania during the Reign of Charles I: Family, Political and Economic Ties

Summary/Abstract: Promoting the Western model by the political elite led ineluctably to the gradual modernization of the various levels of Romanian society. During the reign of Charles I, a visible antagonismsketched around the two currents was noted, being gradually organized into two modern political parties, the National Liberal Party and the Conservative Party, which dominated the political life of the country between 1866-1914. Networks of power in the Romanian political system have been built along time and they were tightly connected with: the process of political parties establishment, the relationship between government and opposition, the electoral competition, parliamentary life and government activity. After 1866, a new political regime was established and this allowed for clear directions of evolution both in the domestic life of the country and in its foreign affairs. Thus, the existence of a new regime, supported by the 1866 Constitution, allowed for the consolidation of both the liberal and the conservative political groups, which eventually led to the establishment of modern political parties throughout time: the National Liberal Party (1875) and the Conservative Party (1880). The alternation of government in different stages of Charles I’s reign gradually led to the strengthening of the networks of power, which had important consequences at all levels of society: on both relationships within the families and on political and economic relationships. Power networks established at the political, economic and social level enabled the consolidation of the fledgling Romanian state.

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