New Books in History Cristina Plamadeala, "Dossierveillance, Collaboration, and Fear in Society: The Saga of a Journey Through the Securitate Archives and Beyond" (Routledge, 2025)
Oct 23, 2025
Cristina Plamadeala, a scholar specializing in surveillance and transitional justice, delves into her groundbreaking book, exploring the haunting world of Romania's Securitate archives. She reveals how 'dossierveillance'—the pervasive fear stemming from surveillance files—shaped everyday life under Nicolae Ceauşescu. Cristina connects historical abuses to modern surveillance, emphasizing the complex interplay of victim and perpetrator roles. She reflects on personal motivations behind her research, illustrating the lasting impact of past regimes on contemporary society.
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Personal Origin Of The Research
- Cristina's interest began from family ties to a man accused of collaboration, Antonio Pervadale.
- His novel and accusations prompted her decade-long research into collaboration processes.
Atmosphere Of Constant Suspicion
- Dossierveillance describes living under a pervasive atmosphere where paper files, informers, or bugs create constant suspicion.
- That miasma shaped daily behavior, speech, and relationships across Romanian society.
When Data Becomes Weaponized
- Data valence refers to information that becomes dangerous only when constructed and used to harm.
- It differs from ordinary data by creating fear that shapes what people say and write.
