Institute for Political Studies of Defence and Military History

Establishment and institutional evolution – 1968-1989

The first specialised structure for scientific research in the field of military history and theory was the Centre for Studies and Research in Military History and Theory, established on 1 September 1969, based on Decision No. 2033 of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party, dated 20 November 1968: “In order to develop scientific research in the field of military theory and history, a Centre for Research in Military Theory and History should be established within the Ministry of National Defence.”
The newly established structure, subordinated to the Superior Political Council, comprised: (1) a military history section, with three distinct departments (ancient–medieval, modern, and contemporary); (2) a military theory and doctrine section with two departments (military science and art, and military doctrine); (3) a documentation office (subsequent unit); and (4) the editorial staff of the “Review of Military History and Theory”, with a total of 52 positions (3 generals, 35 officers, 1 non-commissioned officer, and 13 civilian employees).
Following an intensive research effort, the Centre published between 1984 and 1989 a series of significant scientific works:

• six volumes of the “Military History Treaty of the Romanian People”, covering the period from antiquity to 23 August 1944;
• the monographs: “Romania in the War of Independence” (1977); “Romania in the Years of the First World War” (1987, two volumes); “Romania in the Years of the Second World War” (1989, three volumes), as well as the collection “Files from the Military History of the Romanian People” (1973–1988, 19 volumes);
• military historical documents: “Documents from the Military History of the Romanian People” (1974–1988, 17 volumes); “Documents of the Union” (1984); “23 August. Documents” (1984–1985, four volumes).

• One of the most important events organised by the Centre before 1989 was the International Military History Congress, organised by the Romanian Commission of Military History in Bucharest, in 1980.
• Among other representative activities that involved the Centre’s researchers, the following are to be mentioned: The international colloquium on the theme “Central Europe during the Second World War”, held in May 1970 in Warsaw; The international conference “War and Society in Central-Eastern Europe in the 18th–19th Centuries”, held in New York, in March 1978; “The International Congress on the Frontiers of the Roman Empire”, held in September 1983 in the Federal Republic of Germany, as well as other significant events.

• Starting on 1 March 1990, the Centre for Studies and Research in Military History and Theory merged with the Section for Operational-Strategic Scientific Research and Military Forecasting into the Directorate of Operational-Strategic Studies and Research, Forecasting and Military History, which operated, during 1990–1991, within the General Staff. The Directorate comprised four sections: doctrine and military art; military forecasting; military history and coordination of military scientific research.
• On 1 June 1991, the Directorate of Operational-Strategic Studies and Research, Forecasting and Military History was transformed into the Institute of Military History and Theory, organised into three research sections: doctrine, military art and military history.
• On 15 December 1994, the institution was renamed the Institute of Operational-Strategic Studies and Military History, operating under this name until the end of 1997.
• On 24 December 1997, the institute underwent another reorganisation, receiving its current name – the Institute for Political Studies of Defence and Military History (IPSDMH) – and was placed under the authority of the Department for Defence Policy. The new structure included two directorates – for security studies programmes and defence studies (which also included a military history office) – and an information and documentation section. At the same time, the Editorial Office of the "Review of Military History became part of IPSDMH’s organisational structure.
• In the following years, in the context of the reform of the Romanian Armed Forces, the Institute underwent a series of restructurings and staff reductions.
• Later, in 2016, the Institute’s organisational structure underwent a new major reorganisation: three research sections were established – security studies, defence studies and military history studies, along with an administrative and staff section. It should be noted that, this reorganisation led to the dissolution of the Editorial Staff of the Review of Military History”, which had been responsible for publishing the Institute’s two regular journals – “Review of Military History” and “Strategic Monitor”.
• The last major reorganisation of IPSDMH took place on 30 June 2024. Under this restructuring, the scientific research component was resized through the establishment of two research units (security and defence studies, and military history studies, respectively), and the Editorial Office was re-established.  
• Currently, the Institute for Political Studies of Defence and Military History operates under the Department for Defence Policy, Planning and International Relations.