The Opening of the State Security Archives of Central and Eastern Europe

Bibliographic Data

ID20184455
AuthorsPaul Maddrell (0000-0003-3516-2758, corresponding author)
Year2014
Volume27
Issue1
Pages1-26
Publication date2014-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0885-0607 • E-ISSN: 1521-0561
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/08850607.2014.842794
OpenAlexW1989108040
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited6

In laws passed since 19911\nthe state security archives of the former Communist states\nof Central and Eastern Europe have been opened. This paper examines why they have\nbeen opened and what the results have been (and are likely in future to be). It surveys\nthe legislation in place throughout the former Soviet Bloc but focuses in particular on\nthe opening of the archives in Germany and Romania. The reason for this is that the\nprocess is far advanced in Germany and much less advanced in Romania. The\ncontrast between the two displays the issues involved very well. The paper argues that\nthe opening of the archives has been an important tool of de-communization. It has\nbeen fullest in Germany because of the strength and self-confidence of the German\nlegal system and because of the weakness of the Communists’ political position. It\nhas been partial in Romania because the legal system lacks authority, independence\nand self-confidence and the Communists have remained strong

Archaeology · Business · Communism · Economic history · German · Independent state · Legislation · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Sociology · State security · Eastern European Communism and Reforms · History · Korean Peninsula Historical and Political Studies · Law · Polish Historical and Cultural Studies

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