The following “comparative research” of seven socialist constitutions and two post-socialist ones is presented in the format of textual commentaries and drawings. It deals with the constitutions of the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia (since 1963 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) and People’s Republic of Romania (since 1965 Socialist People’s Republic of Romania) as well as with the 1991 constitutions of post-socialist Romania and newly emerged states of former Yugoslavia.
The researched constitutions are: 1946, 1953, 1963, 1974, 1991 (Yugoslavia) and 1948, 1952, 1965, 1991 (Romania). The early constitutions of Yugoslavia and Romania are quite similar in content (both 1940s constitutions being an almost exact copy of 1936 Soviet constitution), focusing on the first stage of transition from capitalism to socialism. The 1950s constitutions share some similarities in regard to the working class and the communist party’ role. However, Yugoslavia in 1948 broke up the relations with the Soviet Union and as a consequence it began the process of socialisation of property (early self-management) and the transfer of state property into social ownership. Romania’s 1952 constitution on the other hand proclaimed friendship and alliance with the great Soviet Union. The 1960s constitutions are already very different….
