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Abstract
The popular idea of a peaceful, bloodless transition from communism to capitalism where democracy had been fully instituted in all the countries of Eastern Europe is not entirely accurate. The events that led to the execution of Nicolae Ceausescu and the aftermath of the Romanian dictator's dethroning contrast with the revolutions won in neighboring countries. Some scholars call what happened in Romania in 1989 something less than a revolution, but only a true revolution could cause the degree of change experienced by Romanians.
The degree of Romanian change in 1989 is measured through an analysis of everyday Romanian living conditions, before and after the fall of Ceausescu. History, scholarly literature, and personal interviews of Romanians are used to assess the change in food, housing, family life, health conditions, and working conditions of ordinary Romanians.
