A leader of "the new Europe" offers a unique perspective on recent history.

A stalwart ally and strategic partner in the war against terror and a new member of NATO, Romania with its vibrant democracy and robust economy is a far different place than it was in mid-twentieth century. According to some analysts, the twentieth century was a "short century" spanning the years from the outbreak of World War I in 1914 to the fall of Soviet-style Communism in 1991. It was nevertheless one of the most dynamic and dramatic centuries in the history of civilization, featuring two world wars of...