Throughout February, the Romanian people received international accolades for vigorously flexing their civic muscle against the
government’s attempt to roll back hard-won achievements in the fight against corruption. While other member states in the European
Union (EU) are grappling with the threat of illiberal disorder, the decisiveness with which hundreds of thousands of Romanians took to
the streets in defence of their country’s anti-graft effort seemed to light a beacon of hope for democratic resilience. But are the
Romanian protests really the bearer of good tidings for democracy or mere expressive insurrections sparked by deeper political issues
in the country? And what lessons does the recent public outcry in Romania hold for democracy elsewhere, in the EU and the Balkans
