Romania's implementation of European Union standards: Rule of law, democracy, and human rights

This thesis is a case study that explores good governance in Romania, concentrating on the European Union's role in Romania's post-communist transition. In contrast to current scholarship, this thesis seeks to examine good governance via the EU's definition on the concept. Thus, good governance is defined within the framework of the rule of law, democracy, and respect for human rights. In an attempt to evaluate the growth of the rule of law, democracy, and respect for human rights, this thesis links the nature of Romania's historic governance to the nation-state's EU accession process. Evaluations of the principles of good governance in Romania's various stages of past government structures help analyze the nation-state's progress and grant insight to possible future developments. The methodology used in this thesis includes both primary and secondary sources in a prospective approach. Analysis of these sources indicates a strengthening of the rule of law, democracy, and respect for human rights during Romania's EU accession process. However, slow progress and apparent back-tracking indicate an endemic, persistent problem of corruption. This thesis concludes that, in the absence of a sufficient solution, Romania cannot consolidate the rule of law, democracy, or human rights.