{"id":17689,"date":"2025-06-12T16:30:21","date_gmt":"2025-06-12T14:30:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/?p=17689"},"modified":"2025-06-12T16:34:27","modified_gmt":"2025-06-12T14:34:27","slug":"between-borders-and-belonging","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/17689\/between-borders-and-belonging\/","title":{"rendered":"Between borders and belonging"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the heart of Romania lies the city of Cluj-Napoca. Once part of the powerful Hungarian Kingdom, now Cluj has belonged to Romania for the past 105 years. But what about the Hungarians, the largest minority still living there? Do they feel at home in a country where they were born but to which their roots do not belong?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Cluj-Napoca, a city with no less than 286,598 inhabitants, located almost in the center of Romania, has a rich history, a Hungarian history. Cluj (short for Cluj-Napoca) was part of the former Hungarian Kingdom until the end of the First World War. This changed with the signing of the Treaty of Trianon in 1920, which helped to end the war. As a result, the entire region of Transylvania, including Cluj, became part of Romania. To this day, that history remains visible, not only in the architecture, language, and culture, but especially in the people of Cluj.<\/p>\n

The Hungarian population in Cluj is steadily declining. In 2023, only 11.3% of the city\u2019s residents were Hungarian. Although they remain the second-largest ethnic group, their numbers have significantly decreased over the years. Along with that, the feeling of being at home in Cluj is also fading for many Hungarians.<\/p>\n

Strong Culture<\/em><\/strong>
\n<\/strong>After the Treaty of Trianon, Romanianizing became a major policy. Many Hungarian institutions were replaced or adjusted. Despite this demographic shift, Hungarian culture remains visible in Cluj. Two important cultural landmarks in the city are the State Opera and the Hungarian Theatre. The State Opera (Magyar \u00c1llami Operah\u00e1z) and the Cluj Theatre (Kolozsv\u00e1ri \u00c1llami Sz\u00ednh\u00e1z) are the oldest and most prestigious Hungarian-language cultural institutions outside of Hungary. They present operas, plays, and concerts exclusively in Hungarian, and are highly valued by the Hungarian community. There is also a Hungarian City hall and a reformed church that is still in its old state.<\/p>\n[aesop_gallery id=”17702″ revealfx=”off” overlay_revealfx=”off”]\n

Hungarian Legacy<\/em><\/strong>
\n<\/strong>\u201cIt makes them feel more at home,\u201d says Bal\u00e1zs Bodolai, a Romanian Hungarian actor at the Cluj Theatre. \u201cI speak with pride in my own language. I may have lived my entire life in Romania, but both of my parents are Hungarian. I keep their legacy alive by speaking their language on stage.\u201d The theatre is a state-funded institution, meaning it is supported by the Romanian government. \u201cI\u2019m very happy that Nicu\u0219or Dan won the elections last week. Since he supports the Hungarian community, there\u2019s a good chance that this theatre will continue to operate. He is open to minorities in Cluj. The right-wing party, led by George Simion, is not so welcoming toward us\u2014and not just us Hungarians, but all minorities,\u201d Bodolai explains. \u201cIt gives me an unpleasant feeling, like we\u2019re not wanted by all Romanians. Sometimes I feel like I\u2019m not welcome in my own country.\u201d<\/p>\n[aesop_gallery id=”17706″ revealfx=”off” overlay_revealfx=”off”]\n

Data<\/em><\/strong>
\nBodolai is not alone in feeling this way. This graph shows how answers to the question \u201cWhat do you consider your homeland?\u201d have changed among ethnic Hungarians in Romania between 1997 and 2021. Fewer people now consider Romania their homeland, while more identify with Transylvania. Since 2016, an increasing number of people also identify with Hungary as their homeland. This reveals a shifting national identity and growing awareness within the minority group.<\/p>\n

\"Table

Table 1: What do you consider your homeland? \u2013 Made by Loekie Pruijn<\/p><\/div>\n

According to Dr. Tam\u00e1s Kiss, a researcher at the Romanian Institute for Research on National Minorities (ISPMN), the graph should be interpreted critically. The question \u201cWhat do you consider your homeland?\u201d can be influenced by many factors. Kiss, an expert on ethnic minorities in Romania\u2014particularly the Hungarian community in Transylvania\u2014contributed to collecting the data behind the graph.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople have many reasons not to feel at home in a certain place. It\u2019s not all about culture or language,\u201d Kiss explains. \u201cFor example, Hungarians are often less wealthy and tend to live in the same neighborhoods. For many people, money is the main reason they don\u2019t feel at home.\u201d But that\u2019s not the only reason, he adds: \u201cPolitics plays a role as well. It doesn\u2019t help when someone is openly against you and your people, like George Simion. That doesn\u2019t create a welcoming environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

The future of the Hungarian minority in Cluj remains uncertain. While the buildings, the culture, and the language are still present and strong, the question remains: what will happen to the Hungarian community in Cluj? Will the feeling of homeland ever truly return for them in Romania?<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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