national populism and slovak – hungarian relations in - MEK

Miroslav KocúrNational Populism and Slovak – Hungarian Relations in Slovakia 2006 – 2009. Forum Minority Research Institute Šamorín – Somorja, 2009with respect to the highest instance (i.e. God) from which it derives its originand its contemporary existence.Furthermore, everyday life on the level of society and individual isorganized on the foundation basis of legislation that operates from lawsoriginating from a theophanic experience. This experience is very importantfor an individual and subsequently for his decision to shape the life of acommunity according to this experience. Theophany is materialized througha personal experience of an individual (e.g. Moses) who introduces hisexperience and its implications to the community he leads. This moment isfurther strengthened by the nature of narration that is in the Bible relatedto constitution of an ethnic community led by the individual in the time ofits making and self-definition. Based on this individual’s authority, theophanyis subsequently materialized within the community that according toaccounts is willing to accept this ancient tale of its origin. Besides, thisancient tale becomes the foundation of administering social institutions,trade and economic life of the community. Being chosen lends a highermeaning to existence of the people that rationally and emotionally embracesthis explanation; also, it defines the community’s identity.The literary form of such accounts features mythological constructs butit is not a myth. Relevant opinions of modern experts confirm that the formof narration is determined by the period in which these texts were created.So-called etiologic intentions – i.e. explanation of causes of particular phenomenaand reality – often remain unnoticed in the process of these texts’interpretation. 27 While struggling for their own identity in the biblical context,ethnic and national entities fought a campaign that offers a paradigmfor the universal effort to transform the world into a global village.At the dawn of the Christian calendar, the transition from a nationalapproach to a national-confessional one transcended into an intra-culturalarea. Supporters of the single confession (i.e. the Christians) began to differentiatebased on their inner attitudes and ethical standards. Tribal, consanguineous,confessional and ritual identificators lost their original meanings.It is good to realize these basic facts when looking at several centuriesat the turn of the ages. In its essence, the Hellenic culture was a multiculturalworld of people and ideas. The ideological interference and literaryaffinity of biblical and non-biblical accounts on origins of the world, themankind, national communities and cultures indicate the way in which theoldest yet remarkably preserved texts of the Hebrew and Greek bible interpretedreferences to particular ethnic or cultural entities.Through gradual interpretation of the notions of ‘people’ and ‘nation’,these ancient texts offer basic frameworks and interpretation keys to under-236