"Maria Costea. Relaţiile politico-diplomatice româno-bulgare (1938–1940)". (Cluj-Napoca: Napoca Star Publishing House, 2010), 475 pages, ISBN 978-973-647-756-0." Valahian Journal of Historical Studies 17 (August 2012): 127–128. ISSN 1584-2525. DOI 10.5281/zenodo.16696167 https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=258577.

Journal: Valahian Journal of Historical Studies

• Issue Year: 2012
• Issue No: 17
• Page Range: 127-128
• Page Count: 2
• Language: English

The question of Romania’s relations with its neighboring countries has long captured the attention of Romanian historians, as well as scholars from the surrounding region. This theme remains of enduring relevance to Romanian historiography, reflecting both a legitimate and well-documented scholarly interest. The substantial volume authored by Dr. Maria Costea offers a noteworthy and original contribution to this field, grounded in extensive research and the exploitation of newly accessible archival sources. As such, it holds a significant place within the broader discipline of the history of international relations. The monograph, initially presented as Dr. Costea’s doctoral thesis under the academic supervision of Professor Dr. Viorica Moisuc, exemplifies rigorous scholarly engagement.

Dr. Costea has produced a compelling and thoroughly documented analysis of Romanian–Bulgarian relations during a period marked by acute tensions in the international system (1938–1940), a climate that left a visible imprint on bilateral diplomacy. The structure of the work is skillfully devised to foreground the influence of external geopolitical developments on Romanian–Bulgarian dynamics. These include the Thessaloniki Agreement, the Czechoslovak Crisis and the Munich Agreement, the Ribbentrop–Molotov Pact, the outbreak of the Second World War, the Soviet ultimatum to Romania in June 1940, and ultimately, the Vienna Diktat.

These major developments collectively accelerated the advancement of revisionist policies. On the one hand, they undermined Romania’s international standing, diminishing its resilience and diplomatic leverage; on the other, they emboldened Bulgaria’s territorial claims, leading eventually to the bilateral negotiations in Craiova and the signing of the Treaty of Craiova on September 7, 1940.

One of the most commendable chapters of the volume is the author’s nuanced analysis of the existing state of historiographical research concerning Romanian–Bulgarian relations in the interwar period, with particular emphasis on the years 1938–1940. In approximately 40 pages, Dr. Costea offers what is arguably the most comprehensive scholarly review to date on the way this subject has been approached in both Romanian and Bulgarian academic literature.