Europeanisation, National Identities and Migration ... - europeanization

Integration of Hungary or the Hungarians? 235
These factors have a double impact. On the one hand, they obviously and rapidly
opened new fields of international cooperation on such matters that traditionally
belonged to the state sovereignty. On the other hand, these overlapping changes of
transition and external effects contribute to the noticeable growth of xenophobia
and anti-European sentiments, in spite of the original aims.
Admit only ‘self-made men’
The previously mentioned sense of emergency and suspicious attitude towards
migrants, strongly reduced the moves towards family unification and integration of
lawful foreign residents (recognised refugees, protected persons and settled migrants)
into the local community, labour market and society in general. Although there are
no notices attached to the border-crossing points to the effect that ‘Hungary admits
only self-made men’ the migration policy has been based on this principle. It means
that the harsh selective (exclusive) entry policy is not paired with a set of support
mechanisms in order to integrate the foreigners into the society as smoothly as
possible, preventing further social, cultural and political tensions. The logic is the
opposite: the major aim is to frighten aliens, and those who remain are ethnic
Hungarians. Why do they want integration programmes and assistance? The
others who are non-Hungarians form an easily ignored small group that can manage
the transition period alone, surviving the labyrinth of alien policing and refugee
administration (Tóth 1995). This policy has led to a relatively high rate of transit,
re-migration and irregular migration, which seems to support the government’s
unwillingness to develop an integration policy. Further, the ethnic preference
in reception policy jeopardises the impartial implementation of human right
obligations (Fullerton 1997) and produces dysfunctions in immigration law
(Tóth 1997).
Controversies in foreign affairs doctrine
There is a triple priority system within foreign policy, outlined by the first democratic
government in 1990, which has been gradually developed and re-interpreted by
all ruling coalitions since. Originally, this policy had three equally important components:
(1) Hungary intends to integrate into the Euro-Atlantic alliance and
organisations; (2) the country commits itself to establishing a good neighbourhood
and friendly relations in the region; (3) as the mother country, it has responsibilities
for ethnic Hungarians living across the border.
The Hungarian Republic feels responsible for the lot of Hungarians living
outside her borders and promotes their relations with Hungary.
The amendment of the Constitution 5 to include this sentence significantly changed
the policy of the democratic Hungarian government and legislation related to the
Diaspora. Since 1989 the expressions most frequently used were national minorities,