A KÜLFÖLDI MIGRÁCIÓ DISKURZUSAI ÉS HATÁSAI HERTELENDYFALVÁN
DISCOURSES AND EFFECTS OF INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION IN VOJLOVICA

Summary/Abstract: This study examines the social, cultural, and religious impacts of international migration on the Hungarian community of Vojlovica (Hertelendyfalva) in the southern Banat region. The research is based on field work conducted in 2024 and 2025 and on the analysis of ten semi-structured interviews with local residents aged between 18 and 72. The findings indicate that the primary drivers of emigration are better employment opportunities and improved living conditions abroad; however, the consequences of migration extend far beyond economic considerations. While younger generations tend to view migration as an opportunity for social mobility and personal advancement, older generations emphasize the weakening of community ties, the fragmentation of families, and the decline of traditional forms of communal life. The study also demonstrates that migration significantly influences both religious life and identity preservation. Although participation in local community and church life has decreased, new Hungarian social networks and identity-preserving practices have emerged among emigrants abroad. The paper concludes that migration should be understood not merely as a demographic process but as a phenomenon that reshapes social relationships, cultural heritage, and collective identity within the local community.

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