Large numbers of Hungarians found themselves in a new country as a minority after the Trianon Treaty in 1920 when Hungary lost two thirds of its land and one third of its population. Minorities in East and Central Europe have a long history and for the most part they used to live together peacefully however increasing national identity in the 19th century challenged the lives of minorities. Countries try to homogenize their population although some minorities had been living there for a couple of hundred years already. This essay examines particularly the ethnic Hungarians in Slovakia with a brief background on Hungarian-Slovak history, problems and improvements Hungarians have faced especially since the existence of the Slovak Republic as of 1993 and how Hungary seeks to support its people as a kin-state. Additionally a short insight on the other side is given, namely on how Slovaks think about the Hungarian minority and how the Slovak minority lives in Hungary.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Historical Background
- Hungarian Minorities in Slovakia
- Post-Trianon Era
- Challenges and Improvements
- Slovak Perspective
- Hungary's Policies towards Ethnic Hungarians Abroad
- The Status Law
- Negotiations with Slovakia
- Public Opinions and Stereotypes
- Slovak Minority in Hungary
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay aims to explore the situation of Hungarian minorities in Slovakia, focusing on the historical background, challenges they face, and the efforts of both the Hungarian government and Slovak authorities to address these issues. It also examines how Slovaks perceive the Hungarian minority and briefly looks at the Slovak minority in Hungary. Key themes covered in the essay include:- Historical developments and their impact on Hungarian minorities in Slovakia
- Linguistic, cultural, and educational rights of Hungarian minorities
- The role of the Hungarian government in supporting its ethnic kin abroad
- Public perceptions and stereotypes regarding minorities in both Slovakia and Hungary
- The impact of political rhetoric on minority rights and social cohesion.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: The essay introduces the topic of Hungarian minorities in Slovakia, highlighting the historical context of the Trianon Treaty and its impact on the Hungarian population.
- Historical Background: This section provides a brief overview of the historical relationship between Hungary and Slovakia, including the Magyarisation policies implemented by Hungary during the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the subsequent emergence of Slovak nationalism.
- Hungarian Minorities in Slovakia: This section delves into the specific challenges faced by Hungarian minorities in Slovakia, including language rights, education, and cultural autonomy. It examines the post-Trianon period, focusing on the challenges of assimilation, and the gradual progress made in protecting minority rights.
- Hungary's Policies towards Ethnic Hungarians Abroad: This section examines the Hungarian government's efforts to support ethnic Hungarians living in neighboring countries, particularly the controversial "status law" designed to grant them special rights. It discusses the negotiations between Hungary and Slovakia regarding the implementation of this law.
- Public Opinions and Stereotypes: This section explores the public perception of Hungarian minorities in Slovakia, drawing on research that suggests that stereotypes, particularly those fueled by political rhetoric, can negatively impact relations between ethnic groups.
- Slovak Minority in Hungary: This section briefly examines the situation of the Slovak minority in Hungary, highlighting the assimilation pressures they have faced due to a lack of Slovak schools.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The essay focuses on themes like minority rights, ethnic identity, assimilation, cultural autonomy, political rhetoric, public perception, and the impact of historical events on contemporary relations between Hungary and Slovakia. Key terms include Hungarian minorities, Slovak minorities, Trianon Treaty, Magyarisation, status law, assimilation, and stereotypes.- Quote paper
- Angela Kuhnert (Author), 2011, Hungarian Minorities in Slovakia, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/280475
