This project is supported by a grant of the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitization, CNCS -UEFISCDI, project number
PN-IV-P2 -2.1-TE-2023-1482, within PNCDI IV
© Centre for European Studies - Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has profound consequences for European security, international stability, and trust in
democratic institutions, but it also reflects a broader global trend of contesting democracy and the liberal international order.
Recent assessments show a marked deterioration of democratic governance, often described as a “long democratic
recession,” characterised by rising autocratisation and a decline in democratic quality worldwide. Over the past decade, this
trend has reversed 35 years of democratic progress, with 72% of the global population now living under autocracies and
global democracy returning to 1986 levels. Within this context, the war at the EU’s eastern borders highlights the Union’s
urgent need to strengthen security and democratic resilience. Pressures generated by democratic backsliding affect both
established and newer EU democracies, with Central and Eastern European states—such as Romania and the Republic of
Moldova—remaining especially vulnerable to internal weaknesses and external geopolitical threats. The region east of the EU
has long been a target of resilience building strategies intended to help post‑Soviet states manage geopolitical pressures
while protecting the Union itself. Assessing the democratic climate in Romania and Moldova is therefore essential for
understanding their capacity to withstand shocks, adapt to challenges, and uphold core democratic principles.
Main objective
The
objective
of
the
ResEaste
is
to
o
provide
a
comprehensive,
dynamic
and
evidence-based
picture
of
the
democratic
climate
of
Romania
and
Republic
of
Moldova
over
the
last
30
years
by
conducting
an
in-depth
analysis
of
their
specific
behaviours
and
patterns
for
the
purpose
of
assessing
their
democratic
resilience,
as
well
as
of
identifying
palpable
means
to
reinvigorate
their democracies.
Expected results
The project results will be quantified in research:
•
Report on the Democratic Resilience Analytical Framework
•
Report on Democracy Narratives in Romania and the Republic of Moldova
•
Communication Plan and Results Exploitation Strategy
•
ResEast website
•
ResEast Database
•
Case Study: “Democracy in Times of Crisis” in Romania and the Republic of Moldova
•
Case Study on Romania’s Discourse Regarding the Democratization of the Republic of Moldova
•
IDRC Data Sets for Romania and the Republic of Moldova
•
Future Laboratories (in RO & MD)
•
Comprehensive Report on the Future of Democratic Resilience in Romania and the Republic of Moldova
•
Report: “Romania’s Role and Capacity to Promote the Democratization of the Republic of Moldova”
•
Handbook for Enhanced Democratic Resilience in RO & MD
Project coordinator
The project is coordinated by Loredana Maria Simionov, a researcher at the Centre for European Studies specializing in EU
resilience and foreign affairs, with a regional focus on Eastern Europe.
About
Democratic resilience and institutional transformation at the eastern borders of the European
Union. The case of Romania and Republic of Moldova | ResEast
PN-IV-P2-2.1-TE-2023-1482
© Centre for European Studies - Alexandru
Ioan Cuza University of Iași
About
Democratic resilience and institutional
transformation at the eastern borders of
the European Union. The case of Romania
and Republic of Moldova | ResEast
PN-IV-P2-2.1-TE-2023-1482
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has profound
consequences for European security, international
stability, and trust in democratic institutions, but it
also reflects a broader global trend of contesting
democracy and the liberal international order. Recent
assessments show a marked deterioration of
democratic governance, often described as a “long
democratic recession,” characterised by rising
autocratisation and a decline in democratic quality
worldwide. Over the past decade, this trend has
reversed 35 years of democratic progress, with 72%
of the global population now living under autocracies
and global democracy returning to 1986 levels.
Within this context, the war at the EU’s eastern
borders highlights the Union’s urgent need to
strengthen security and democratic resilience.
Pressures generated by democratic backsliding affect
both established and newer EU democracies, with
Central and Eastern European states—such as
Romania and the Republic of Moldova—remaining
especially vulnerable to internal weaknesses and
external geopolitical threats. The region east of the
EU has long been a target of resilience building
strategies intended to help post‑Soviet states
manage geopolitical pressures while protecting the
Union itself. Assessing the democratic climate in
Romania and Moldova is therefore essential for
understanding their capacity to withstand shocks,
adapt to challenges, and uphold core democratic
principles.
Main objective
The
objective
of
the
ResEaste
is
to
o
provide
a
comprehensive,
dynamic
and
evidence-based
picture
of
the
democratic
climate
of
Romania
and
Republic
of
Moldova
over
the
last
30
years
by
conducting
an
in-depth
analysis
of
their
specific
behaviours
and
patterns
for
the
purpose
of
assessing
their
democratic
resilience,
as
well
as
of
identifying
palpable means to reinvigorate their democracies.
Expected results
The project results will be quantified in research:
•
Report
on
the
Democratic
Resilience
Analytical
Framework
•
Report
on
Democracy
Narratives
in
Romania
and
the Republic of Moldova
•
Communication
Plan
and
Results
Exploitation
Strategy
•
ResEast website
•
ResEast Database
•
Case
Study:
“Democracy
in
Times
of
Crisis”
in
Romania and the Republic of Moldova
•
Case
Study
on
Romania’s
Discourse
Regarding
the Democratization of the Republic of Moldova
•
IDRC
Data
Sets
for
Romania
and
the
Republic
of
Moldova
•
Future Laboratories (in RO & MD)
•
Comprehensive
Report
on
the
Future
of
Democratic
Resilience
in
Romania
and
the
Republic of Moldova
•
Report:
“Romania’s
Role
and
Capacity
to
Promote
the
Democratization
of
the
Republic
of
Moldova”
•
Handbook
for
Enhanced
Democratic
Resilience
in RO & MD
Project coordinator
The project is coordinated by Loredana Maria
Simionov, a researcher at the Centre for European
Studies specializing in EU resilience and foreign
affairs, with a regional focus on Eastern Europe.
This projectd is supported by a grant of Ministery of
Research and Innovation, CNCS - UEFISCDI, project
number PN-III-P1-1.1-TE-2016-0073, within PNCDI III
