Deconstructing a Region: the Banat/Bánság.
Deconstructing a Region: the Banat/Bánság.

Author(s): Barna Bodó, Alpár Zoltán Szász
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences
Published by: Scientia Kiadó
Keywords: Banat; Habsburg Empire; colonisation policy; minorities
Summary/Abstract: The Banat/Bánság is a special region in Europe. Its modern history began in 1716 when it was conquered back from the Turks and obtained a special status as part of the Habsburg Empire. This meant that the region became part of the latter without having to adopt its system of territorial administration. The special status lasted approximately one hundred years and entailed a rather unique colonisation policy practised by the Viennese Court, which resulted in an ethnic diversity that is seemingly unparalleled on the continent. These processes and their consequences still influence the situation of the region and the life of the national minorities inhabiting it. The primary aim of our paper is to identify the factors that currently shape the regional discourses developed mainly on the basis of the historical elements presented in the previous paragraph. Needless to say: there are indeed several discourses. However, the one adopted by the Romanian majority focuses on the basic values characterising the history of the Banat/Bánság without mentioning which elements are attached to national minorities. Rallying around this discourse devoid of elements concerning minorities could call into question the future of the Banat’s minorities. The secondary aim of our paper is to provide empirical evidence for this process and analyse it.

• Details
• Contents