Hungarian language media in Romania as a soft power tool: potential implications for societal security
Hungarian language media in Romania as a soft power tool: potential implications for societal security

Summary/Abstract: Hungarian language media in Romania is employed as a soft power tool by the Hungarian Government, which aims to maintain the loyalty of the Hungarian ethnic minority in Romania. Its functioning is characterized by a high centralization, reproducing the media model in Hungary, described by the Media Freedom Rapid Response community as the “archetypal case of state captured media” at the EU level. Through a strong grip over Hungarian language media in its neighboring states, the Hungarian Government advances its goals of keeping united the “Hungarian political nation”, a concept used extensively, to include communities living abroad. While the support given by states to national minorities abroad is legitimate under inter-state agreements, conflicting state interests may arise, partly due to the region’s model of nation building processes which were rather based on the “ethnic nation”. This could lead to barriers in social integration and building cohesion with the majority. The article analyses the frames relevant for identity building and national cohesion, transmitted through Hungarian language news websites in Romania on a day of significance for the Hungarian nation, 15 March - “National Day of Hungarians Everywhere”, problematizing the role of mass-media in fostering societal security.

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