"Anti-Revisionism" Leonte Răutu

march 1953: gheorghiu-dej (front row) returning stalin s funeral , being met party officials, including răutu (second row, middle, ghizela vass , mihail roller on either side behind him)

răutu still unchallenged cultural policymaker stalin died, although romanian regime contemplated structural changes. after 1956, superior within party gheorghiu-dej, cared little cultural intrigues. @ viith party congress in december 1955, răutu became alternate member of politburo. shortly after, began investigation activities of nicolae labiș, disillusioned marxist poet. răutu signaled labiș s fall disgrace, declaring piece murdered albatross pessimistic , unworthy of building-sites construct socialism.

the tensions between gheorghiu-dej , soviet ruler nikita khrushchev highlighted during hungarian revolution of 1956. romania participated in punitive expedition against hungary. răutu himself reported general public felt romania suffered because of terrible boners made soviets in hungary. documenting reorientation of mid-1950s, scholar ken jowitt included răutu , gheorghiu-dej s economic adviser, alexandru bârlădeanu, among pmr regime figures mediated between progressives , stalinists. when gheorghiu-dej, played 2 factions against each other, decided overturn of zhdanovist measures adopted in 1950s, described răutu , mihail roller responsible pmr s frail relationship romanian intellectuals.

răutu had close call @ party plenary of june 1957: chișinevschi , constantinescu both attacked gheorghiu-dej liberal socialists , revisionists , expelled party s inner core. though 1 of chișinevschi s confidants (and natalia răutu chișinevschi s secretary), răutu managed survive incident , preserved standing. expressed full support gheorghiu-dej, , tasked communist leader redacting plenary documents public view. collaborated on project ceaușescu, 1 of gheorghiu-dej s trusted men.

his potential rival grigore preoteasa, joined central committee s secretariat in charge of ideology shortly after chișinevschi sidelined. tismăneanu notes, chance romanian culture revisited modicum of decency . however, preoteasa s death november allowed răutu undisputed control on culture. răutu himself injured in vnukovo airfield accident killed preoteasa. recovery in hospital brought unexpected relaxation of censorship, notably allowed ethnologists write traditional romanian dwellings (a theme răutu have otherwise proscribed) , translators focus on contemporary literature.

upon returning, pmr ideologist heralded all-out anti-revisionist campaign: may 1958 speech began attacks on anti-soviet internationalist communist union, hungarian revolutionaries , liberal theories ; went on criticize stalinist dogmatism , personality cult ; , listed romanian philosophers , artists had deviated 1 field or other. răutu reassessed own political positioning, depicting chișinevschi morbid stalinist , himself balanced figure. during june 1958, , gheorghiu-dej produced case against pmr veteran constantin doncea, had been tempted question gheorghiu-dej s claims of revolutionary primacy. răutu labeled doncea titoist, came claims doncea had followers in cultural sphere—a pretext verification of writers still harbored modernist ideas. happened răutu drafted confidential note improving relations yugoslavia , toning down anti-titoist propaganda.

the pmr cultural activists, răutu included, masterminded show trial of philosopher constantin noica, writer dinu pillat , other literary dissidents, of them brutalized securitate secret police. preserved of great influence, directing censorship apparatus (officially placed under iosif ardeleanu) putting out scînteia (approving each issue before went printing).