The Securitate, or the Departmentul Securitii Statului, was repressive dictator Nicolae Ceauescu's secret police force in Communist Romania. Although established in 1948, they really began to exert further influence once Ceauescu rose to power in the mid-1960s and survived until 1991. With the best part of 500,000 informants from a population of just 22million, the Securitate were always one step ahead of any potential dissidents - and swift punishments were handed out to those who spoke out against the Communist government. With methods involving extensive censorship, the spreading of vicious rumours and public humiliation of dissidents, the Securitate ensured their presence was constantly felt in order to intimidate the Romanian population into submission. Torture and execution were also used when necessary but, similar to the Stasi, psychological control secured by their deep-rooted connections ensured a largely-stagnant dissident movement in Romania.
NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.
