After attending courses in France between 1938–1939 on a French government scholarship, he returned to Bucharest where in 1940 he earned his doctor's degree in philosophy (thesis: "Sketch on the history of How is it that there is anything new", published the same year). After General Ion Antonescu installed his dictatorship in collaboration with the Iron Guard in September 1940, Noica served as editor-in-chief of "Buna Vestire", the official newspaper of the Iron Guard. In his articles during the period he extolled the organization and its leader, Horia Sima. According to historian Zigu Ornea, his allegiance to the fascist organisation continued after the Iron Guard was suppressed following their failed rebellion.