The Modernization of Romanian Military Thinking on the Eve of the Balkan Wars and the First World War (1912-1916)

Authors

  • Ovidiu PĂDURARIU Doctoral School of Social and Human Sciences, “Ștefan cel Mare” University of Suceava

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53477/2284-9378-26-07

Keywords:

Military Doctrine;, Romanian Army, Modern Warfare;, Military Modernization, Balkan Wars;, World War I

Abstract

The article analyzes the process of adapting Romanian military thinking to the fundamental transformations of modern warfare during the period 1912–1916. Drawing on Western doctrinal influences and military experiences from the Balkan Wars, the study highlights the gap between conceptual modernization and the institutional capacity to implement it. It argues that the Romanian Army entered World War I with a formally modernized doctrine, but with structural limitations that affected its initial operational efficiency.

Author Biography

Ovidiu PĂDURARIU, Doctoral School of Social and Human Sciences, “Ștefan cel Mare” University of Suceava

Ovidiu Pădurariu graduated from the “Nicolae Bălcescu” Land Forces Academy in Sibiu in 2004. He completed all stages of training and professional development, rising to his current rank of lieutenant colonel. He completed the basic course, the advanced course, and the master’s program in leadership at the “Carol I” National Defense University in Bucharest, specializing in Land Forces Leadership, which he completed in 2020. During his studies, he participated in activities at conferences organized by the University. He defended his dissertation in 2020, focusing on modern warfare in urban environments.
Starting in 2021, Ovidiu Pădurariu was admitted to the doctoral program at the Doctoral School of Social and Human Sciences, “Ștefan cel Mare” University of Suceava. His doctoral dissertation is in the field of History, specifically Military History, and is titled “The Romanian Army and the Challenges of Modern Warfare (1912–1919).” Since 2021, Ovidiu has been conducting research to prepare his doctoral dissertation and fulfill specific requirements.
In 2025, he presented the approach to the thesis topic (historical context, rationale for choosing the topic, general objective, formulated hypotheses, sources used, conclusions) during the “USV Doctoral Student Days” workshop.
In 2024, he published an article at the International Conference on Romanian Military Thought, titled “Lessons Learned by the Romanian Army after the 1916 Military Campaign.”

Due to objective reasons, primarily related to his professional responsibilities, especially after February 2022, Ovidiu Pădurariu extended the duration of his scientific research in order to complete his training and fulfill all the requirements necessary to complete his doctoral studies.

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Published

2026-04-09

How to Cite

PĂDURARIU, O. . (2026). The Modernization of Romanian Military Thinking on the Eve of the Balkan Wars and the First World War (1912-1916). BULLETIN OF "CAROL I" NATIONAL DEFENCE UNIVERSITY, 15(1), 105–123. https://doi.org/10.53477/2284-9378-26-07

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Articles

License

The published articles are subject to copyright law. All rights are reserved to the “Carol I” National Defense University, regardless of whether all or part of the material are considered, especially the rights to translation, reprinting, re-use of illustrations, quotations, broadcasting through the media, reproduction on microfilms or any other way and storage in data banks. Any replicas without the associated fees are authorized provided the source is acknowledged.