Liviu Cangeopol (born March 28, 1954) is a
Romanian writer, journalist, and political analyst.
Biography
Born in
Iași, Liviu Cangeopol studied Languages and Literature at the
Alexandru Ioan Cuza University in his home town and Accounting and Business Administration in
New York City and
Atlanta. He made his writing debut in Dialog Magazine (1978). Cangeopol published his anti-communist book while living under the
Romanian Communist Regime (this was an extremely dangerous and rare act, at the time). The book, titled What Else Could Be Said – Free Discussions in an Occupied Country (1989—Agora-USA, 1990—Minerva Publishing House, 2000—Nemira Publishing House) was co-authored with Dan Petrescu.[1]
Cangeopol's book is a vehement judgment against the Romanian Communist Regime and its former president,
Nicolae Ceaușescu.[2]
It remains the best critical analysis of the Communist system written in Romania before the fall of the regime. "Narratives Unbound: Historical Studies in Post-communist Eastern Europe"[3]
In April 1988, Paris Daily Libération published an interview with Cangeopol, Be Satisfied Mr. President – Your Name will Remain in History. Broadcast on
Radio Free Europe, Cangeopol's interview accused President Ceaușescu of violating human rights and free speech.[4]
In September 1989, just three months before the
Romanian Revolution, Cangeopol immigrated to the United States with his wife, Lidia Cangeopol and one child.
Liviu Cangeopol began his journalistic career in New York at Romanian Free World. Cangeopol also published his work in other newspapers such as
New York, Romanian Times, Cultural Observator, Contrapunct, Vatra, Flacăra Iașului, etc.
Cangeopol has been an American citizen since 1996.
He is one of the few Romanian human rights activists whose name appears in Pace of Democratic Reforms and Status of Human Rights in Eastern Europe, written by United States Congress. House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Organizations. (U.S. G.P.O., 1990)[5]
After the fall of the communist regime, Cangeopol's name was included in Romanian History text books.[6]
On December 18, 2006, the new Romanian President,
Traian Băsescu, while presenting a report condemning the acts of the former Communist regime, extended special appreciations to Cangeopol and to six others for the integrity and courage in their fight for justice under the communist regime.[7][8]
On January 31, 2020, Cangeopol received the title, Citizen of Honor of his hometown, Iași.[9]
Published books
Tears of Angel, (Junimea, Publishing House, 2023)
The World Behind the Glass, (Integral, Publishing House, 2023)
The Dream's End, (Integral, Publishing House, 2022)
Evanescent, (Integral, Publishing House, 2022)
The Return of Seasons, (Integral, Publishing House, 2021)
What Else Could Be Said – Free Discussion in an Occupied Country, (co-author Dan Petrescu) (1989—Agora-USA, 1990—Minerva Publishing House, 2000—Nemira Publishing House).
^http://www.presidency.ro/?_RID=det&tb=date&id=8288&_PRID=ag Discursul președintelui României, Traian Băsescu, prilejuit de Prezentarea Raportului Comisiei Prezidențiale pentru Analiza Dictaturii Comuniste din România - (București, 18 decembrie 2006)