Ethnicity and cross-border economic relations in the hungarian-slovak border region Cover Image
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Ethnizität und grenzüberschreitende ökonomische Beziehungen in der ungarisch-slowakischen Grenzregion
Ethnicity and cross-border economic relations in the hungarian-slovak border region

Author(s): Wolfgang Aschauer
Subject(s): Anthropology
Published by: LIT Verlag
Keywords: ethnicity; cross-border relations; economic relations; Hungary; Slovakia; Romanies; trust; social networks;

Summary/Abstract: Belonging to the same ethnic group increases the trust towards another person of the same ethnicity and weakens the trust towards members of the out-group. In-group-relations, if defined ethnically, can therefore transcend borders. This understanding of an ethnic group leads to the hypothesis that cross-border economic relations are more frequent and stronger if the partners belong to the same ethnic group. Ethnic groups are therefore often thought to build bridges across border lines and thus provide support for economically relevant relations, or even spur the border region’s common development. In the Slovak-Hungarian border regions these hopes do not (yet) seem to be fulfilled. In the western part, with regard to ethnic Hungarians in Slovakia, the modernisation process reduced the economic importance of personal relations. Consequently, the relevance of cross-border activities on ethnic grounds is marginal. In the eastern part, personally-based connections could offer a way to starting or improving economic cross-border relations. But in this region’s primary ethnic group, the Romanies, personal ties are very close and do not reach outside their small groups of relatives and neighbours. Hence, cross-border relations are very rare and have no impact on economic development. Only slight changes towards a greater extent of cross-border ethnic connections can be observed.

  • Issue Year: 2007
  • Issue No: 11
  • Page Range: 103-125
  • Page Count: 23
  • Language: German