Sociologie Românească

Health Professionals’ Views on the Legislation Regarding Work Participation for People With Chronic Diseases in Romania

Adela POPA — 2026-06-29

This paper aims to analyse the lived experiences of Romanian health professionals regarding the legislation that regulates work participation of people with chronic diseases which are subject to long-term sick leave, disability certification and/or invalidity pension, due to their condition. The topic is important, especially because legislation seems to be rather a barrier than a protective factor, provides unclear or insufficient guidelines, and is not accessible enough. The methodology has a phenomenological orientation and is mixed, combining desk research on Romanian legislation related to work after chronic diseases with semi-structured interviews done with 33 participants, belonging to six categories of health professionals. The results of the desk research were included in a report that highlights the main legal provisions on work with chronic conditions. The analysis of the interview data was conducted using Nvivo software, based on an inductive approach. The results emphasized three themes: the current state of the legislation and the system, the impact of the current legislation and directions for change. Conclusions are relevant for Romanian decision-makers in this area. Thus, the most significant problem of the Romanian legislation related to work, from the health professionals' perspective, points to unclear roles, responsibilities, and guidelines, with a relevant impact on patients and employers. Also, health professionals discuss the lack of coordination among them and with other stakeholders involved in the process (employers, employment agencies, non-profit organisations) and suggest some changes that could contribute to a better work (re)integration for individuals with chronic diseases.

Pedagogia umilinței: violență simbolică și formare profesională în educația medicală românească. O analiză sociologică a discursului profesional din mediul online medical

Radu-Mihai DUMITRESCU — 2026-06-29

Medical education in Romania remains deeply shaped by hierarchical traditions and symbolic power relations inherited from its institutional past. Within clinical training, humiliation and disrespect often function as implicit pedagogical tools rather than as deviations from ethical norms. This study explores how symbolic violence, professional habitus, and institutional power are reproduced in the discourse of Romanian medical professionals. It aims to understand how young doctors and students experience and internalize hierarchical domination and how these processes affect empathy, motivation, and professional identity. Using a qualitative, interpretive design, the research analyzes Facebook discussions among Romanian physicians regarding experiences of humiliation, mentorship, and respect in university hospitals. Thematic analysis, guided by Bourdieusian and Foucauldian frameworks, identifies recurrent discursive patterns and emotional repertoires that reflect the moral climate of medical education. Findings reveal four dominant themes: (1) humiliation as a ritual of initiation; (2) cultural normalization of abuse; (3) silent resistance and moral survival; and (4) erosion of empathy and vocational motivation. These themes demonstrate that symbolic violence has become a normalized component of professional socialization. The study argues that genuine reform in Romanian medical education must address not only curriculum and infrastructure but also the deeper cultural logic of power, respect, and human dignity embedded in institutional practice.

Preventive Education for Children Affected by Parental Substance Use: Policy Opportunities for the European Pillar of Social Rights

Ana-Maria TELEOACĂ — 2026-06-29

This paper explores how selected principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights – particularly those related to education, equal opportunities, and childcare – can provide a framework for developing preventive measures to support children affected by parental substance use. Using a qualitative policy analysis approach, the study examines existing prevention and social support programmes in Romania, focusing on their alignment with the European Pillar of Social Rights objectives. It also integrates statistical data on health and physical activity levels in Romania compared to other European Union member states. The analysis highlights the potential of physical activity programmes as innovative tools for prevention and social inclusion, particularly given the low levels of physical activity among Romanians and its multiple benefits for physical and mental health. Findings emphasise the need for integrated, multi-sectoral policies that bridge healthcare, education, and social services to better prevent the reproduction of parental risk patterns among children affected by parental substance use. The study aims to formulate policy-oriented recommendations for enhancing early prevention and promoting social inclusion in line with the European Pillars of Social Rights framework.

Social Risks for Families With Children in Romania

Mariana STANCIU — 2026-06-29

Currently, in Romania, many families with children are under the pressure of some disrupting factors which decrease quite seriously the well-being of their members. In this study, I will focus on the statistics dimensions of the most frequent of these social factors – as they have been identified in the public discourse on the Romanian media (March 2025, evening News, TVR 1), as follows: precarious economic situation of families with children, negative consequences of adult emigration in search of a better-paid job on children left at home, the influences of adults separation/divorce on the life of their minor descendants, the education deficit of the children in the adulthood stage of life, drugs use or alcohol addiction, high social incidence of the premature motherhood and its social consequences. Such factors with major impact on social disintegration and on quality of family life reduction require the initiation of some specific social policies to prevent and mitigate their effects. The latest available and relevant data were gathered from the publications of the national/international statistics, which address this kind of problems and life difficulties of the families with children from Romania and EU countries, in order to formulate some pertinent policies for alleviating the associated social risks.

Archiving the Present: The Social Conflict Between Romanians at Home and in the Diaspora on TikTok

Cristina Oana CRISTEA — 2026-06-29

This paper qualitatively analyzes the social conflict emerged on TikTok between Romanians living in the diaspora and those residing in Romania during the 2025 presidential elections. These elections were characterized by a strong polarization of political opinions. The paper examines the relationships established between the platform, algorithms, political factors, and human actors. At the same time, it attempts to address the methodological challenges of conducting qualitative research in the online environment. TikTok is conceptualized here as an archive of the present. It is the space where users produce and preserve multimodal content through which they express their political opinions and interact with one another. The re-archiving of online content enabled the creation of a database consisting of 250 posts disseminated by users between May 5 and June 5, 2025. This database was used for qualitative content analysis. The research findings reveal the mutual antagonization between Romanians inside and outside the country’s borders through stereotypes and their integration into local and global socio-economic processes. Social labeling regarding electoral behavior and social values – expressed through oppositions such as civilization vs. barbarism, the European Union vs. Russia, education vs. lack of education – together with the problematization of non-residents’ voting rights, reflect social class tensions. In addition, the study highlights how TikTok contributes to the deterritorialization of nationalism and political participation as a result of migratory processes. The paper emphasizes the diaspora’s double marginalization: by host countries and, more recently, by the country of origin.

Les racines systémiques de la violence sexuelle en temps de la guerre russo-ukrainien: une analyse multidimensionnelle

Geanina ROȘCA — 2026-06-29

The ongoing armed conflict between Ukraine and the Russian Federation has given rise to numerous discussions on logistical and strategic aspects, particularly regarding improving the material and moral support provided to Ukrainian soldiers. These discussions are part of a wartime logic, where priorities are focused on survival, resilience, and military effectiveness. However, beyond these considerations, an invisible front emerges, on which thousands of Ukrainian women and girls are struggling. They face not only the material deprivation and precarious living conditions inherent in war, but also various forms of violence, particularly sexual violence, perpetrated both by men in their circles (partners) and by enemy soldiers. Despite the social context where they still tend to remain in the background, particularly in military contexts, women continue to perceive men as heroes – sacrificial figures whose suffering wrongly justifies the exercise of physical domination or even sexual violence against them. This study aims to explore the root causes of violence against women in the context of war, with a particular focus on sexual violence. To address this issue, the analysis draws on the results of previous research conducted in the context of other armed conflicts, as well as on the observations of Ukrainian specialists, including psychologists and civil society activists working with victims. The conclusions that emerge are largely predictable, given that Ukrainian society retains a patriarchal structure.

Early 1990s Romania Revisited: Power, Transition, and Foreign Policy in the Diary of Ioan Mircea Pașcu

Iulian STĂNESCU — 2026-06-29

This essay revisits early-1990s Romania through the first volume of Ioan Mircea Pașcu’s political diary, which covers the period from June 1990 to October 1992. It argues that the diary should be treated not merely as a political memoir, but as a major documentary source for reconstructing Romania’s early post-1989 politics, foreign policy, and transition. Moving beyond a conventional book review, the essay reorganises the diary’s chronological entries into an analytical structure centred on four themes: (1) the domestic struggle for power, (2) the political role of the informal group ‘A Future for Romania,’ (3) Romania’s foreign and security policy in a dangerous grey area between the collapse of the Warsaw Pact and the still uncertain post-Cold War order, and (4) the political personalities who dominated the period. The analysis shows that the diary challenges several later retrospective myths, especially concerning the June 1990 events, the Iliescu–Roman conflict, Romania’s alleged alignment with the Soviet Union, and the assumption that rapid integration into the collective West depended mainly on the will of the Romanian leadership. Instead, Pașcu’s account reveals a far more contingent and insecure setting, marked by institutional fragility, economic and social crisis, regional instability, and limited Western interest in Romania. The diary is thus highly relevant not only to historians and political scientists, but also to sociologists concerned with transition, state formation, political recruitment, and post-Cold War regional order.

Maria Larionescu sau despre „existența-valoare”

Ștefan UNGUREAN — 2026-06-29

One can not write about Maria Larionescu without addressing the symbol she embraced in her professional life, namely what Ricoeur calls “value-existence”: “when each person not only appears to me, but also determines itself absolutely as an end in itself, limiting my claims to objectify her theoretically and use her practically, then she exists for me and at the same time in herself. In short, the existence of the other is a value-existence”. This explains her focus, during the “Old Regime”, on the work carried out by the “Bucharest School of Sociology” founded by Dimitrie Gusti, in an approach that I would frame as an effort to dislocate what at that time represented the living-present.

Maria Larionescu (1939-2026) – in memoriam

Sorin MITULESCU — 2026-06-29

Maria Larionescu (1939-2026) passed away quietly, leaving the memory of a dedicated researcher, with numerous achievements throughout a consistent and long career. She developed professionally over more than 60 rather tumultuous years, being part of both the renaissances and the critical periods of sociology that followed. Her accomplishments are recorded in several thematic areas, from field research in industrial sociology (in the 1960s) and rural sociology (in the 1970s), to important chapters in the history of Romanian sociology, and finally to significant contributions to the study of social phenomena such as post-communist deindustrialization or social polarization. Her exemplary moral traits also remain indelibly in the memory of those who knew her.

Personalitățile fără de care nu ar fi fost posibil In memoriam Maria Larionescu (1939-2026) Profesor universitar, sociolog

Gabriela-Cătălina DANCIU — 2026-06-29

Maria Larionescu was an outstanding sociologist, a leading figure in Romanian sociology, and a rare example of intellectual generosity, kindness, and moral elegance. Through her work, her guidance, and her unwavering support for younger generations, she helped shape an entire academic community. For many of us, she was one of those indispensable people without whom things simply would not have been possible. Her memory will remain deeply linked to the spirit of the Bucharest School of Sociology and to all those whom she guided, encouraged, and inspired.

Ioan Mărginean, omul

Bogdan VOICU — 2026-06-29

Ioan Mărginean was more than a professor, in the narrow sense of producing and sharing academic knowledge. He was, above all, deeply human, and this was reflected in the elegance of his leadership and in his strong sense of responsibility toward those who worked with him. In this piece, I recall a few ordinary yet telling moments that reveal his way of acting and the everyday forms of support and guidance he offered to generations of scholars over time.

Mulțumesc, domnule profesor!

Raluca POPESCU — 2026-06-29

This text is dedicated to the memory of Ioan Mărginean, especially in his role as professor. I recall some of the things that impacted me and for which I am deeply grateful to him.

Despre profesorul și omul Ioan Mărginean

Marian VASILE — 2026-06-29

This is a personal tribute to Professor Ioan Mărginean, a prominent Romanian sociologist, reflecting on his rigorous yet humanizing mentorship, his contributions to quality of life research, and the lessons learned through our professional collaboration. Professor Mărginean is a foundational figure in my academic formation, demanding yet fundamentally kind and, whose published work on research methodology, social stratification, and quality of life will continue to guide future generations of sociology students.

In memoriam Ioan Mărginean: un mentor

Florin LAZĂR — 2026-06-29

The text reflects on the life and influence Professor Ioan Mărginean exerted on my professional career during three decades. It underscores his kindness and scientific rigor in guiding a student, then a young researcher, throughout the academic life. Moreover, it highlights the relevance of his writings for current students and researchers.

THE MISSION OF ROMANIAN SOCIOLOGY DURING THE COMMUNIST PERIOD. FROM SOCIOLOGISTS’ MEMOIRS. Romanian Academy Publishing House, Bucharest, 2025. Cătălin Zamfir, Elena Zamfir (eds.)

Sebastian FITZEK — 2026-06-29

This review discusses Cătălin and Elena Zamfir’s edited volume on the mission of Romanian sociology under communism, arguing that its main strength lies in converting autobiographical testimony into sociological evidence by anchoring memoirs in verifiable publications, projects, and institutional records. The review summarizes the book’s two-part architecture, an analytical framing chapter followed by thirteen professional memoirs, and highlights recurring themes: cycles of institutional opening and closure, methodological vigilance toward indicators, professional ethics under ideocratic pressure, and the persistence of empirically grounded inquiry. The volume is read as both a landmark archive for disciplinary memory and a timely resource for contemporary debates on expertise, politicization, and the governance of knowledge.

ASISTENȚA SOCIALĂ A PERSOANELOR VÂRSTNICE ÎN ROMÂNIA POSTDECEMBRISTĂ. Editura Pro Universitaria, București, 2025. Carmen Marcela CIORNEI

Viorica Cristina CORMOȘ — 2026-06-29

The book Social Work for the elderly in post-December Romania, author, analyzes the evolution of the Romanian system of support for the elderly after 1989, in a context marked by the accelerated aging of the population. The paper combines theoretical explanations of the aging process with a detailed examination of the needs and vulnerabilities of older people, paying particular attention to the phenomenon of abuse and neglect. The second part traces the legislative and institutional transformations in four stages, comparing Romania with European models and highlighting the crucial role of informal care. The author proposes practical tools for planning community services, supplemented by useful appendices for specialists. The review highlights the major contributions of the volume: the historical and comparative perspective, the integration of the European dimension, the ethical emphasis and the applied value. The book is presented as an important landmark, advocating for dignity, intergenerational solidarity and a humane approach to elderly care.

PERSPECTIVE SOCIOLOGICE ÎN DINAMICA TURISMULUI ROMÂNESC. CALITATEA VIEȚII LOCALNICILOR ȘI TURIȘTILOR DIN SUDUL LITORALULUI. Editura Pro Universitaria, București, 2025. Georgiana Oprescu

Claudia DELU — 2026-06-29

The review analyzes the contribution of the work to the development of a sociological perspective on tourism, understood as a multidimensional social phenomenon with a direct impact on quality of life. The volume, grounded in empirical research conducted on the southern Romanian seaside, is situated at the intersection of the sociology of tourism, sociology of development, and quality of life studies, moving beyond strictly economic approaches and highlighting the social, cultural, and institutional implications of tourism. A relevant conceptual contribution is the metaphor of “phoenix tourism,” used to describe the capacity of destinations to regenerate in the face of crises and structural discontinuities. The empirical results reveal the complex relationship between tourism and quality of life, emphasizing, on the one hand, the benefits of tourism development and, on the other hand, structural vulnerabilities such as seasonality and insufficiently developed infrastructure. The review highlights the originality of the approach and the relevance of the work both for the academic environment and for the development of public policies oriented toward sustainable development and the balance between economic progress and social well-being.