Wounded Place-Based Memories in Romania: Towards Social Justice for the Deportees in the Bărăgan Area

Abstract

Recent studies urge deeper debate on memory and social justice in postcommunist Central and Eastern Europe. One of the harshest events in communist Romania was the deportation from the Romanian-Yugoslav border to the Bărăgan Plain. By analyzing 27 interviews from www.deportatiinBaragan.ro, we examine how memories of deportation unfolded. Most trauma stemmed from the adaptation of the deportees to the hostile Bărăgan environment. Many deportees died; survivors suffered illness, carried trauma, and struggled to adapt on returning home. As the postsocialist state has done little to address these wounded place-based memories, the study suggests social justice steps that could help heal the memories.