ROMANIA'S CENTENARY AND YOUNG ROMANIANS' VIEW OF THEIR OWN IDENTITY
ROMANIA'S CENTENARY AND YOUNG ROMANIANS' VIEW OF THEIR OWN IDENTITY

Summary/Abstract: Starting from Erikson's idea that identity is a coherent self image made up of the goals, values and beliefs that a person is firmly committed to, our article aims to analyze how Romania's Centenary celebrations have succeeded in fostering in young people the belief in the grandeur of Romania's national values or annihilating the feeling of pride in belonging to a big nation. The main objective of our paper revolves around the way in which this anniversary event has succeeded or failed to strengthen the Romanian nation. We will equally address the hypothesis that the Centenary could represent that country project that is currently lacking in Romania. We will also employ the theory of the form without substance in our analysis, given the fact that the Centenary and the Romanian hospitality give a formal boost to Romania’s image. In our approach we will equally resort to the methodological instruments delivered by anthropology, since seen as a ritual the Centenary gave voice to two contradictory opinions, one attacking the national spirit and disavowing the symbols, rituals and national myths, the other defending them, but in a tedious and redundant rhetoric. For an interdisciplinary approach, the anthropological perspective will outline the premises for a qualitative psychological analysis. In an experiment, we need to make it clear that shaping a national identity among young Romanians is a process that can happen due to all the efforts put in celebrating the Centenary.

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