This paper deals with the Hungarian minority in Transylvania. In 1920, the terms of the Treaty of Trianon (an offshoot of Versailles) divided the Austro-Hungarian Empire, including the coveted Transylvanian region, rich in natural resources. Along with territory, Romania also inherited a large Hungarian minority and responded with aggressive assimilation policies regarding: religion, economy, lingo-cultural, and political and legal rights (Tóth, 1996, p. 426). Despite no outbreak of war, minority tensions and grievances persist in the region, suggesting a potential fault line for social cohesion. The election of a far-right, hyper-nationalist government in Hungary, and the current economic crisis in the EU make the issue even more contentious. I argue that securitizing Hungarian minorities as a threat restricts options and possibilities for stronger social cohesion. Using a critical International Relations (IR) constructivist method, I chart the scholarly debates to demonstrate how Transylvanian minorities are securitized, and discuss limitations and implications. This is important for policy options because showing how minority demands may lead to a stronger, rather than a weaker, nation-state, can point to new possibilities beyond historically embedded dialogue.
