History/Political Science paper by Petrás, Éva
Romantic Elements of Hungarian Nationalism and Their Transformations in the Compromise Era
Type of Abstract (select):Abstract (max. 250 words):
Nationalism as a coherent idea emerged at the beginning of the 19th century under the inspiration of romantic worldview in Hungary. However, numerous concepts and elements, which romantic nationalism developed, survived the founding period of the so-called “reform era” and occurred later at crucial moments of national history. From time to time they served as a mobilizing force and symbols of national unity, but sometimes they changed their face and became bases of political, cultural or social exclusions.
In my contribution I’d like to present and follow the history of some of the substantive romantic ideas of Hungarian nationalism as they were used and instrumentalized in the Compromise era with an outlook to their later use. Romantic worldview influenced most of the Hungarian national symbols and cults, but its influence has also been significant in the history of Hungarian national identity. The evolving political romanticism of the late 19th century used the elements of the national past to visualize a triumphant national future, developed the contradictory concepts of state and cultural nationalisms, presented the cult of the Hungarian national mythology in an era of economic and social change. As a consequence, the originally liberal nationalism was channelled to the neo-conservative political ideas by the end of the Compromise era.
Brief Professional Bio (max. 100 words):
Éva Petrás made extensive researches in the field of 20th century church history in Hungary. She obtained her PhD at European University Institute, Florence (Italy), dealt with the intellectual and social history of the Hungarian Catholic church between the two world wars. Since January 2009 she is a researcher in the Historical Archives of the Hungarian State Security, Budapest, and conducts researche in the history of the Catholic Church after World War II.
Dr. Petrás also spent three years of research in a scientific research institute in Budapest, which hosted researches in the field of comparative history of ethnic and national minorities. She dealt with the problem area of Hungarian national consciousness and with the comparative analysis of Hungarian and Slovakian national concepts, controversies of national pasts. Since then, she is also a dedicated researcher of Central European nationality questions.