February 5, 2025, Dr. Olga R. Chiriac, ICUB Visiting professor, contributed to a panel on Resistance Warfare hosted by the 2025 West Point Security Conference. Her presentation, ”Resistance Concepts in Russian Strategic Calculus, Romania – Moldova Case Study” explored the evolution of the resistance movement in Romania and Moldova before, during, and after World War II, with a focus on the unique composition of its participants. Prior to WWII, the resistance comprised both far-right and communist fighters, while post-WWII, it shifted to include peasants, intellectuals, priests, and students united in their struggle against the communist regime installed by Joseph Stalin. This research seeks to understand what unified these diverse and ideologically opposing groups. Additionally, the presentation examined the birth, funding, imagery, narrative, and messaging of the movement through interviews and archival research in Romanian, Russian, French, and German. This study sheds light on the complex social and political dynamics that fueled resistance in a rapidly changing landscape and is part of ongoing research Professor Chiriac is conducting at the University of Bucharest.
More information regarding this event is available at: https://www.westpoint.edu/