1.1 million people living in #Romania declare themselves Hungarian. Why is this, and where are they?

In two Romanian regions, Hungarians are a majority (74 & 85% of the pop.)

They're in #Transylvania, in the middle of the #Carpathians. This mountain range divides the Romanian territory.

These Hungarian communities have lived here since this area was part of the Kingdom of Hungary

It’s not the only case. After WWI, #Hungary lost 2/3 of its former territory.

From: https://europeanperspective.substack.com/p/hungarians-in-the-carpathians-european

How was it to grow as a Hungarian in #Romania? I talked with Gabor, 40, from #Transylvania

His grandparents never moved, they were born in #Hungary. But borders did, and that area is now Romania

As a kid, Gabor spoke better Romanian than his grandparents, who struggled to learn. However, the majority of the population of Transylvania has been Romanian since the 19th century

"As kids, we learned each other's language just by playing together. Sports clubs were mixed"

https://europeanperspective.substack.com/p/hungarians-in-the-carpathians-european

Romanians see #Transylvania very differently from Hungarians

105 y. ago, the modern Romanian state was created when Transylvania was added. A time for celebration!

But for #Hungary, the loss of this territory (and others) meant the end of the Kingdom: it's a time of mourning

Relations between the countries are still difficult. Since #Romania entered the EU in 2007 there haven't been bilateral talks

How can we explain the current conflict? We'll see tomorrow

Or here: https://europeanperspective.substack.com/p/hungarians-in-the-carpathians-european

How to explain the conflict between #Hungary and #Romania about #Transylvania? As an *outsider*, I think of it as a cycle

1) Hungarian populations in Romania complain
Romanian law says that a minority above 20% is entitled to special language rights. This is not always implemented

2) Hungary intervenes.
It has a national plan to support Hungarians abroad. Hungary pursues "unification of the nation" (beyond borders). It funds churches, sports and media outlets for Hungarians outside Hungary. They issued passports for the Hungarian minority abroad, and with them, the right to vote.

At this moment, we have "a system in which Hungarians can live their life as it would be in Romania, but in Hungary" (quoted from researcher Tamás Kiss).

4) Way in for nationalism and populism

Hungarian players in the Romanian football league are insulted. The Romanian president once accused Hungary of wanting to reclaim Transylvania. From Hungary, they retorted: "we never said Transylvania was Romanian".

Politicians behaving undiplomatically create a snowball effect in society. This reinforces step 1: Hungarians complain that their situation is not good.

@Veza85UE On the draft, I received 2 pieces of feedback

- That I was being too soft with Orbán, downplaying his intentions.

- That calling Hungarian policy "irredentist" was incorrect: there was no intention to alter borders

Then, I checked the official policy. Found: "unite the nation (despite the borders)". I find it ambiguous and provocative, while conveying a real feeling of (part of?) the population: "unite all Hungarians"

Haven't fully addressed your comment, though. What do you think?

@rafa_font His once poorer (MUCH poorer in Romania's case) neighbours now laugh at him. He's going to change borders? Him and whose army? His wealthier neighbours have not only better economies but also powerful friends, some of whom have troops stationed nearby. They're at the table, while Orbán goes for potty breaks.

His impotent sabre-rattling for domestic consumption isn't all that impressive seen from abroad, is what I'm saying, though it's toxic in its own right for Hungary itself.

@Veza85UE Thanks!

He's not going to change borders. But that's not his goal, I think.

I see the following:

- A real feeling of unity among Hungarians across borders (my focus in the article)

- Using it, Orbán trolls the neighbours with words like "unite the nation". And his neighbours are biting the bait! (not my focus, just scratched it)

- But, it's not about really changing the borders (so, it's "incorrect" to accuse them of irredentism). It's for "domestic consumption" as you mention.

@Veza85UE About Ukraine: continuously, Orbán makes it difficult for the EU to unanimously support Ukraine.

Many times, the excuse is "how Ukraine treats the Hungarian minority".

There might be cases in which this mistreatment happens. I think we (as EU citizens) should be aware of this, know the reality of the Hungarian minorities, be sure there's no mistreatment, and thus remove this excuse for Hungary not to support Ukraine.

@Veza85UE An anecdote about this that I came across the other day reading "The Counteroffensive" by Tim Mak.

It's about comedians in Kyiv making fun of Zakaparttia:
https://www.counteroffensive.news/p/we-could-all-use-a-laugh

There are two jokes about the area. I see them with a different perspective since knowing about the topic on more depth.