Europeanisation, National Identities and Migration ... - europeanization

Integration of Hungary or the Hungarians? 231
of the sociological concept of Diaspora is the fact that maintaining ties with those
left home is an integral part of the life of Transylvanians in Hungary. There are
several examples to support the claim that the Diaspora of Transylvanians in this
country forms a ‘transnational-community-in-miniature’ living now here, now in
Romania, thus reaping the economic and cultural benefits of its transitional position
(Bíró et al. 1996; Bíró 1996; Grajczjar undated).
In sum, we can establish that there is no consensus of expert opinion concerning
the question whether or not ethnic Hungarians migrating to Hungary from abroad
can be regarded as a Diaspora, but there is no such powerful resistance against
this proposition as seen in connection with the previous issue. In terms of its sociological
features, this community can be regarded as a Diaspora. No doubt, this is a
unique kind of Diaspora, because of its closeness to the host community, on the one
hand, and the peculiarities of the historical, political and economic relations between
the sending and the host countries, such as the peculiar legislative mechanisms
regulating migration to Hungary in the country of origin (Bíró 1996), or the changes
in identity-policies induced by the relocation of borders and the intermeshed
networks of informal economic connections (Grajczjar undated).
The peculiarities of migration and migration politics
in contemporary Hungary
Closely related (both as cause and effect) to the strength and large volume of the
ethnic Hungarian community with Diasporic features across the borders and to
their paradoxical Diaspora living in Hungary, in the following we conceptualise
certain peculiarities of contemporary Hungarian migration patterns and migration
politics.
Migrating population or borders?
Between 1881 and 1990 due to historical reasons (political suppression, economic
crisis, racial persecution, ethnical intolerance), the influxes into Hungary from the
neighbouring regions were significant in many cases. This is not to mention the
population movements related to the changing state borders – at least four times in
the twentieth century (Figure 12.2).
Despite the absence of registered data on aliens residing in Hungary, their stock
and outflow as well as on migrating citizens from Hungary, it is estimated that since
1990 the net migration has been positive (Hárs et al. 2001). Although there are only
fragmented statistics on immigration to Hungary, the overwhelming rate of ethnic
Hungarians inside of each group of immigrating aliens cannot be ignored.
It is questionable whether the changing borders of a migrating state can turn a
receiving country into a sending one, but according to available data net migration
is positive in contemporary Hungary. As is the case with the other Central European
countries, Hungary has also been considered a new receiving country, not only for
those in transit, but also Hungary-bound ethnic migrants. Immigrants who were in
transit came to improve their standards of living. The arrival of ethnic migrants,