The comments come after a peaceful protest by Romanian expat workers demonstrating against corruption and the ruled Social Democrat Party (PSD) turned ugly on the weekend.
The protests in Bucharest, which saw thousands line the streets against corruption, low wages and judicial interference, turned violent as authorities moved in to curb the protestors
Police used water cannon and tear gas to quell the protestors as they attempted to break security lines guarding the government building in Piața Victoriei, Victory Square, in the Romanian capital.
But report authors Marius Stan, research director of the Hannah Arendt Center at the University of Bucharest and Vladimir Tismaneanu, professor of politics at the University of Maryland said that the government reacted with brute force to make clear that an uprising would not be tolerated.
Writing on respected political website Politico Mr Tismaneanu said: “The ruling Social Democratic Party — in fact a kleptocratic mafia — knew that if the protests succeeded in the capital, its grip on power would be at risk.
“Thankfully, immediate national and international outrage ensured authorities refrained from using force as protests continued over the weekend.
“But as demonstrators keep up the pressure and demand the government’s resignation, what happens next is far from clear.”
The co-authors say that Romania’s second wave of authoritarianism stems from the all-pervasive corruption of its ruling class and its desire to quash those who challenge its status.
They wrote: “It is everywhere, embedded in the country’s health and education system, its transportation networks, its post offices.
“It works at the expense of average citizens and permeates every level of communal organisation and daily life in post-communist Romania.”
They claim the ruling party has protected itself by overhauling and tampering wit judicial legislation, blaming the latest uprising on the government’s attempt to challenge democracy and destroy the rule of law.
The authors said: “What the ruling party’s barons are planning these days is nothing less than a state takeover, no matter how laborious and primitively designed. Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă has proven herself to be a pathetic puppet, and is grossly incompetent. Countless grammatical gaffes have made her the laughing stock of a whole nation.
“Only President Klaus Iohannis can be said to have listened to the protesters and sided with them, but his interventions — which included a late-night Facebook post — were inconsistent and weak.”
On Friday, 7,000 protestors waved Romanian and European Union flags and chanted “party of thieves” as they called for the government to resign, with protestors joining the rally as it continued into the evening.
Tens of thousands also staged peaceful protests in other Romanian cities.
The two political scientists wrote: “Even in a rigged political system, people still have the power to act and defend their rights.
“At a time when others in the region — notably Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic — are becoming increasingly critical of the EU and its values, Romanians are taking a determined pro-EU, pro-NATO and pro-Western stance.”