FOTO | Grădina casei Capsali, locul celor mai aprinse dezbateri din Vechiul București. Prea puțin știutul ritual de duminicădin acest adevărat Speakers Corner • Vechiul București

The Criterion cultural association, established in 1932, became a significant cultural phenomenon in interwar Romania, attracting thousands to its events. Members, including Mircea Eliade, engaged in lively discussions that often extended beyond academic boundaries. However, the political climate of the time, marked by rising extremist movements, began to fracture the group's cohesion. As tensions grew, some members, like Eliade, aligned with far-right ideologies, leading to a gradual disintegration of the friendships that once defined Criterion. The association's legacy illustrates both the power of dialogue and the destructive impact of political radicalization.