securitate

Securitate is the Romanian word for security and, in a historical context, refers to the internal security service of the Romanian Communist regime. The term is commonly used to denote the secret police organization known as Securitatea (the Securitate) that operated from the late 1940s until the Romanian Revolution of 1989. In official structures, it functioned as part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and reported to the Romanian Communist Party leadership, with a mandate to ensure political conformity, state security, and social control.

During its existence, Securitatea carried out political surveillance, censorship, and intelligence activities within Romania. It maintained networks of informants across institutions, workplaces, schools, and religious organizations, conducted investigations into dissidents and perceived enemies of the state, and used coercive measures including arrests, interrogations, and, at times, torture. The organization played a central role in suppressing opposition, coordinating with other security and judicial organs, and shaping public life through pervasive surveillance and intimidation.

After the fall of Nicolae Ceaușescu in 1989, Securitatea was dissolved and many of its functions were reorganized into new institutions. The archives of the organization were placed under civilian oversight and are studied by the National Council for the Study of the Securitate Archives (CNSAS). The modern Romanian security framework includes separate agencies for internal policing and external intelligence, with personnel and records transitioning into post-Communist structures. The legacy of Securitatea continues to influence Romanian political culture and discussions about accountability, memory, and historical transparency.