Literature review of the national identity of hungarians in Vojvodina between 1920–1898, I.; Vajdasági/délvidéki magyarok nemzeti identitása 1920–1989-ig I

In: Metszetek: társadalomtudományi folyóirat = Cross-Sections : social science journal, Band 8, Heft 1, S. 109-135

Abstract

Our paper follows on the observation made by Ferenc Pataki who stated that national identity isa collective identity shaped by both political/citizenship-related and cultural elements. Whilethese two elements are usually similar, the national identity of people from ethnic minoritiesdiffer along these two identities. Our analysis discusess the changes that happened during thehundred years since the Treaty of Trianion to these two elements of the national identity of thefollowing three generations of Hungarians in Vojvodina: between the two World Wars, thosewho grew up during the communism and those who became adults after 1990. We conclude thatthe first generation retained their cultural-historical national identiy formed before Wold War Ibut they did not develop Hungarian or South Slavic national idenities. To replace the SouthSlavic identity they developed a regional identity to Vojvodina. The second generation, who wereborn and raised after 1945, developed Yugoslavian political/citizenship-related national identythrough socialisation in a new political system and a regional identity to Vojvodina, which meantan alienation from Hungary. As a result of their shattered cultural-historical national identity,they started to assimilate, some of them lost their Hungarian cultural-historical identity andacquired a Serbian or Yugoslavian national identity instead. The national identity of the thirdgeneration who grew up after 1990 will be discussed in a second paper.