The underlying essay deals with the Hungarian nation, one of the current Central and Eastern European nations that underwent the mentioned developments during the 20th century. What distinguishes the Hungarian nation from most of its neighbours in the region is the fact that following the dissolution of the Habsburg empire after the First World War, Hungary did not gain sovereignty at long last over its territories and an own nation state, but lost a considerable part of its territories and ethnic nationals
This massive reduction of the country’s size and population left a deep mark on Hungarian national consciousness, and the Hungarians inevitably had to redefine their concept of the Hungarian nation.
Thus in the Hungarian case, the issue of the national minorities outside the state is intimately connected to the concept of the Hungarian nation, while, however, there exist of course several other profound aspects that define the nation concept, such as culture and traditions or the so-called historical ‘myths’. This concept of the nation in turn influences how the Hungarian state deals with its minorities, and how it handles minority politics in the framework of its foreign politics, but also in the sphere of domestic policy and concerning ethnic minorities living on the territory of the Hungarian state. Finally, the concept of ‘Europe’ as a cultural entity as well as the potential influence of the Western European powers on Hungary and the CEE region in general, also play an important role in the image of the ‘national self’ as well as in its translation into actual politics.
The underlying paper analyses how the concept of the nation influences and is worked out in actual minority politics. The analysis will focus on those two time periods when the Hungarian elite could lead its country relatively independently, namely the period after the First World War, and the period after the fall of the Communist party in 1989.
Table of Contents
Author’s note:
I.
Introduction
II.1
Different concepts of nationality and the Hungarian nation concept before the 1st World War
II.2
The shock of Trianon- rigid adherence to St. Stephen’s realm
II.3
The historical narratives and the deriving revisionist argumentation line
II. 4
The old nation concept wants its old framework back- revisionist policies during the early 1920’s
II.5
Revisionist propaganda
III.1
Prescribed silence under Communism and national reawakening during
III.2
The new nation concept
III.3
Reflection of the new nation concept in a consensus cutting across party divides
IV.
Conclusion
Research Objectives and Thematic Scope
This paper examines the evolution of the Hungarian nation concept throughout the 20th century, specifically analyzing how geopolitical shifts—namely the post-First World War era following the Trianon Treaty and the post-1989 democratic transition—triggered redefinitions of national identity and influenced subsequent minority politics.
- Theoretical foundations of civic versus cultural/ethnic nation concepts.
- The psychological and political impact of the Trianon Treaty on Hungarian national consciousness.
- Revisionist propaganda strategies and the myth-building of the interwar period.
- The impact of Communist rule on the discourse regarding national minorities.
- The post-1989 emergence of an activist, ethno-cultural nation concept in Hungarian foreign policy.
- The role of "European" norms and international integration in shaping modern minority politics.
Excerpt from the Book
The shock of Trianon- rigid adherence to St. Stephen’s realm
Virtually no Hungarian was willing to accept the conditions of the Trianon Treaty, least of all the higher middle class and the elites. This intransigent denial can partly be explained by the very hard provisions of the Treaty: Rothschild (1992) illustrates that “the area lost to Romania alone was larger than the rump Hungarian state” and that “to be distributed among several sovereign states and to see large fractions of their nation existing as irredentas across international frontiers was for the Magyars, unlike the Germans, an utterly new and psychologically unacceptable condition” (p. 156).
The numerical losses of population and territory are cited by almost all authors touching upon the topic of the Trianon Treaty, while the ways in which these numbers are presented differ. Some ways to present the numerical losses seem to imply sorrow for the Hungarians or outrage, while some seem to forget that the huge losses partly were a consequence of the fact that the Hungarian elites had denied any kind of compromise with or more rights for the other nationalities during the period of the double monarchy (cf. Rothschild, 1992).
The fact that the end of the war and the drafting of the Peace Treaties happened under the ideological umbrella of Wilson’s doctrine of national self-determination, the Hungarians felt deceived by Wilson’s principle since “more than 3 Million Hungarians came under foreign rule against their will” (Borbándi, 1976, p. 11). Besides the factual loss of great parts of former territories and population, the Trianon Treaty had a strong psychological effect. Kende (2004) highlights the “sensitive factors” as following: “The territories, of which Hungary had been impaired, contained namely ancient sites- cities, castles, battlefields - and cultural ‘foyers’ which belonged to the most profound national identity” (p. 61).
Summary of Chapters
II.1: This chapter introduces theoretical concepts of nationality and outlines the Hungarian perception of the nation prior to the First World War.
II.2: The chapter evaluates the immediate psychological and territorial impact of the Trianon Treaty and the resulting rejection by the Hungarian elite.
II.3: This section explores historical narratives and myths, specifically the concept of Hungary as a state-founding nation, which underpinned the revisionist argumentation.
II. 4: The chapter details the political translation of revisionism into the policies of the various governments in the early 1920s.
II.5: This section analyzes the role and methods of revisionist propaganda organizations in shaping public opinion and international perception.
III.1: This chapter describes the suppression of minority issues during the Communist era and their subsequent rediscovery in the late 1980s.
III.2: The chapter analyzes the post-Communist nation concept, emphasizing its ethno-cultural characteristics and the renewed focus on minorities abroad.
III.3: This section examines the broad political consensus across party lines regarding the importance of the Hungarian diaspora and its role in foreign policy.
IV.: The conclusion synthesizes the parallels between the post-1920 and post-1989 periods, highlighting the shift toward European integration as a modern framework for addressing minority concerns.
Keywords
Hungary, Trianon Treaty, Nation Concept, Nationality Politics, Revisionism, Irredentism, National Minorities, St. Stephen’s Realm, Ethnic Identity, European Integration, Minority Rights, Foreign Policy, Historical Narratives, Post-Communist Transition, Diaspora
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
This paper examines how the Hungarian nation concept shifted during two major 20th-century turning points—the post-First World War era and the post-1989 democratic transition—and how these changes influenced government policies toward ethnic Hungarians living in neighboring states.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The work covers nationalism, revisionism in the interwar period, the impact of Communist ideology on national identity, the role of minority politics in democratic Hungary, and the influence of European integration on regional stability.
What is the central research question?
The research investigates how the governing elite translated changes in the perception of the Hungarian nation into actual domestic and foreign policy during the years immediately following 1920 and 1989.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The paper utilizes a qualitative analysis of historical narratives, political discourse, government documents, and revisionist propaganda, while also drawing on comparative theories of nation-building and international relations.
What content is addressed in the main body?
The main body evaluates the theoretical framework of nationality, the "Trianon syndrome," the evolution of revisionist propaganda, the status of minorities under Communism, and the subsequent "Europeanized" minority policies adopted by democratic Hungarian governments.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include Trianon Treaty, Hungarian nation concept, revisionism, irredentism, minority protection, and post-Communist political transition.
How does the author define the difference between 'revisionist' and 'irredentist'?
The author defines 'revisionist' as referring to peaceful attitudes aiming for border changes, whereas 'irredentists' are described as those desiring revision by all possible means, including the potential use of force.
What does the "Antall doctrine" imply in the context of this study?
The "Antall doctrine" refers to the principle established by the first post-Communist government that no decisions regarding Hungarian minorities living abroad should be made without hearing and considering the opinions of those communities.
Why does the study highlight the "Holy Crown"?
The Holy Crown serves as a foundational myth of Hungarian statehood and identity; the study explains how its symbolic value remained central to the revisionist logic of the interwar period and continues to play a role in modern concepts of European identity.
- Quote paper
- Master of Arts Judith Hamburg (Author), 2006, The Hungarian nation concept in the 20th century, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/86019
