Alina Mungiu-Pippidi
Encyclopedia
Alina Mungiu-Pippidi is a Romania
n political scientist, academic, journalist and writer. A commentator on national politics
, she is one of the most prominent civil society
activists in post-1989 Romania
, and, since 1990, an active contributor to 22. Mungiu-Pippidi is a professor at the National School of Administration and Political Science of Bucharest
in Bucharest
, where she holds courses on Nationalism
and Electoral Behavior
. She has also lectured on post-Cold War
transition to a market economy
at several Universities, including Harvard
, Stanford
, Princeton
and Oxford. She is the sister of film director Cristian Mungiu. In August 2007 she assumed a professorship in Democratisation Studies at the Hertie School of Governance
in Berlin
, Germany
.
, she graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Iaşi. Starting in her student years, she began contributing essays of literary criticism to the magazines Opinia Studenţească (of which she became editor in chief after the Romanian Revolution
, in 1991-1992) and Cronica. After 1993, she worked for the Bucharest daily Express (until 1994). She was also the Romanian correspondent for the French
newspaper Le Monde
(1992–1993), and was employed as a news editor by the Romanian Television Company (1997–1998). In 2000, she authored a political science textbook for optional studies in high schools.
Mungiu-Pippidi holds a doctorate
in social psychology
. She visited Harvard University
twice, first as a Fullbright fellow
in the Government Department (1994–1995), and then as Shorenstein fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government
(1998–1999).
In 1995, she founded Romania's largest think tank
, the Romanian Academic Society
(SAR), which issued several reports that were at the center of public debates (among others, they were credited with promoting steps that led Parliament
to ultimately adopt legislation regarding freedom of information
, flat tax
ation, and other approaches to Romania's accession to the European Union
). Mungiu-Pippidi is currently the SAR's president. She has also created and led the "Coalition for a Clean Parliament" (Coaliţia pentru un Parlament Curat), which in the wake of the 2004 legislative elections
, campaigned for candidates with reported moral problems (such as incompatibility or undergoing the investigation of judicial authorities) to be excluded from party lists
(98 candidatures were withdrawn following the Coalition's campaign).
. The play, which was written in the 1990s, only debuted in Romania in 2005, where it sparked a considerable amount of controversy from Christian
religious groups, who labeled it as "blasphemy
" and "an attack against public morals
". The play is based on the life of Jesus
from a different point of view than that of the New Testament
. Among its controversial scenes is one in which it is suggested that Mary Magdalene
has oral sex
with Jesus.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n political scientist, academic, journalist and writer. A commentator on national politics
Politics of Romania
Politics of Romania take place in a framework of a semi-presidential parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Romania is the head of government and the President of Romania exercises the functions of head of state. Romania has a multi-party system. Executive...
, she is one of the most prominent civil society
Civil society
Civil society is composed of the totality of many voluntary social relationships, civic and social organizations, and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society, as distinct from the force-backed structures of a state , the commercial institutions of the market, and private criminal...
activists in post-1989 Romania
History of Romania since 1989
- 1989 revolution :1989 marked the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe. A mid-December protest in Timişoara against the eviction of a Hungarian minister grew into a country-wide protest against the Ceauşescu régime, sweeping the dictator from power....
, and, since 1990, an active contributor to 22. Mungiu-Pippidi is a professor at the National School of Administration and Political Science of Bucharest
National School of Administration and Political Science of Bucharest
The National School of Administration and Political Science of Bucharest is a public University in Bucharest, Romania, founded in 1991.SNSPA is a public institution of higher education and research which was established in 1991 as a postgraduate teaching institution, incorporating in its...
in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, where she holds courses on Nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
and Electoral Behavior
Voter turnout
Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election . After increasing for many decades, there has been a trend of decreasing voter turnout in most established democracies since the 1960s...
. She has also lectured on post-Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
transition to a market economy
Market economy
A market economy is an economy in which the prices of goods and services are determined in a free price system. This is often contrasted with a state-directed or planned economy. Market economies can range from hypothetically pure laissez-faire variants to an assortment of real-world mixed...
at several Universities, including Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, Stanford
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
and Oxford. She is the sister of film director Cristian Mungiu. In August 2007 she assumed a professorship in Democratisation Studies at the Hertie School of Governance
Hertie School of Governance
The Hertie School of Governance is a private university in Berlin, in the historic Quartier 110 of Friedrichstraße. The school is regarded as one of the leading policy institutes in Europe...
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Biography
Born in IaşiIasi
Iași is the second most populous city and a municipality in Romania. Located in the historical Moldavia region, Iași has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Romanian social, cultural, academic and artistic life...
, she graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Iaşi. Starting in her student years, she began contributing essays of literary criticism to the magazines Opinia Studenţească (of which she became editor in chief after the Romanian Revolution
Romanian Revolution of 1989
The Romanian Revolution of 1989 was a series of riots and clashes in December 1989. These were part of the Revolutions of 1989 that occurred in several Warsaw Pact countries...
, in 1991-1992) and Cronica. After 1993, she worked for the Bucharest daily Express (until 1994). She was also the Romanian correspondent for the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
newspaper Le Monde
Le Monde
Le Monde is a French daily evening newspaper owned by La Vie-Le Monde Group and edited in Paris. It is one of two French newspapers of record, and has generally been well respected since its first edition under founder Hubert Beuve-Méry on 19 December 1944...
(1992–1993), and was employed as a news editor by the Romanian Television Company (1997–1998). In 2000, she authored a political science textbook for optional studies in high schools.
Mungiu-Pippidi holds a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in social psychology
Social psychology
Social psychology is the scientific study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. By this definition, scientific refers to the empirical method of investigation. The terms thoughts, feelings, and behaviors include all...
. She visited Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
twice, first as a Fullbright fellow
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the...
in the Government Department (1994–1995), and then as Shorenstein fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
(1998–1999).
In 1995, she founded Romania's largest think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
, the Romanian Academic Society
Romanian Academic Society
The Romanian Academic Society is a Bucharest-based think tank and NGO founded in 1996. It is considered close to the right wing of politics.SAR seeks to...
(SAR), which issued several reports that were at the center of public debates (among others, they were credited with promoting steps that led Parliament
Parliament of Romania
The Parliament of Romania is made up of two chambers:*The Chamber of Deputies*The SenatePrior to the modifications of the Constitution in 2003, the two houses had identical attributes. A text of a law had to be approved by both houses...
to ultimately adopt legislation regarding freedom of information
Freedom of information legislation
Freedom of information legislation comprises laws that guarantee access to data held by the state. They establish a "right-to-know" legal process by which requests may be made for government-held information, to be received freely or at minimal cost, barring standard exceptions...
, flat tax
Flat tax
A flat tax is a tax system with a constant marginal tax rate. Typically the term flat tax is applied in the context of an individual or corporate income that will be taxed at one marginal rate...
ation, and other approaches to Romania's accession to the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
). Mungiu-Pippidi is currently the SAR's president. She has also created and led the "Coalition for a Clean Parliament" (Coaliţia pentru un Parlament Curat), which in the wake of the 2004 legislative elections
Romanian legislative election, 2004
The Romanian legislative election of 2004 was held on 28 November 2004. 137 seats in the Senate of Romania and 314 seats in the Chamber of Deputies were up for election.The 2004 legislative election was held simultaneously with the presidential election...
, campaigned for candidates with reported moral problems (such as incompatibility or undergoing the investigation of judicial authorities) to be excluded from party lists
Party-list proportional representation
Party-list proportional representation systems are a family of voting systems emphasizing proportional representation in elections in which multiple candidates are elected...
(98 candidatures were withdrawn following the Coalition's campaign).
Essays
- Românii după '89 ("The Romanians after '89")
- Doctrine politice. Concepte universale şi realităţi româneşti ("Political doctrines. Universal concepts and Romanian realities"), 1998
- Introducere în politologie. Manual opţional pentru liceu. ("An introduction to politology. Optional textbook for high school"), 2000
- Romania after 2000. Threats and Challenges, 2002
Plays
Alina Mungiu-Pippidi has also written a number of plays, the most high-profile of which has been The EvangelistsThe Evangelists
The Evangelists is a controversial play by Romanian academic and writer Alina Mungiu-Pippidi. The play received the UNITER Prize, one of Romania's most prestigious literary awards, in 1992.-Plot summary:...
. The play, which was written in the 1990s, only debuted in Romania in 2005, where it sparked a considerable amount of controversy from Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
religious groups, who labeled it as "blasphemy
Blasphemy
Blasphemy is irreverence towards religious or holy persons or things. Some countries have laws to punish blasphemy, while others have laws to give recourse to those who are offended by blasphemy...
" and "an attack against public morals
Public morality
Public morality refers to moral and ethical standards enforced in a society, by law or police work or social pressure, and applied to public life, to the content of the media, and to conduct in public places...
". The play is based on the life of Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
from a different point of view than that of the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
. Among its controversial scenes is one in which it is suggested that Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus' most celebrated disciples, and the most important woman disciple in the movement of Jesus. Jesus cleansed her of "seven demons", conventionally interpreted as referring to complex illnesses...
has oral sex
Oral sex
Oral sex is sexual activity involving the stimulation of the genitalia of a sex partner by the use of the mouth, tongue, teeth or throat. Cunnilingus refers to oral sex performed on females while fellatio refer to oral sex performed on males. Anilingus refers to oral stimulation of a person's anus...
with Jesus.
External links
- Personal website
- Resumé, at the Romanian Academic Society Short biography, at Polirom.ro Călin Ciobotari, "Alina Mungiu-Pippidi scandalizează 'dulcele târg al Ieşilor'", Flacăra Iaşului, December 5, 2005 Alina Mungiu-Pippidi – Evangheliştii, at Cartea Românească