Hungary and the Several Millions in the Diaspora

 

The present day Hungary is a nation that was reshaped after the First World War. The event generally referred to as the Treaty of Trianon resulted in a situation where millions of Hungarians suddenly found themselves outside the new drawn boundary of their homeland. An estimated 3.3 million people falls within this category. The new border was drawn in a way to include areas where there are Hungarian majority. Those who found themselves outside the new border are those who are live in regions where they unfortunately form the minority. This historical event has a lot of implications for this group of Hungarians and the people who today live within the marked legal border of Hungary.

Hungarians outside Hungary

Some might have expected these set of Hungarians to be assimilated by the nation they presently are but many of them still retain their identity and culture as Hungarians. The prime minister of Hungary has even given the Hungarians in Romania the opportunity to apply for Hungarian citizenship. This singular act has been subject of many political arguments where some critics believe he is only doing it to score cheap political points probably because of the next election. Supporters of the government however claim they are only trying to reunite the Hungarian family that has been scattered. Political analysts however have said the votes of the new voters, which might be up to half a million, will only be crucial if the election becomes turns into a tight race.

Going Back Home

This is a tricky situation, it is unlikely the Hungarians in Romania or those elsewhere who found themselves outside the boundaries of the new Hungary for no faults of theirs will be willing to leave a place their generations have lived all their lives just to join the new Hungary. However, many of them are very happy about their new found ability to identify officially as Hungarians. The full implication of this when it comes to the kind of tension this new situation might generate in the countries they currently reside is yet to be seen.