University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons CUREJ - College Undergraduate Research Electronic Journal College of Arts and Sciences 4-7-2020 National Minorities and European Union Accession: A Consideration of Communist Legacies and EU Conditionality in Central and Eastern Europe Esther Moriah Yeung University of Pennsylvania, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.upenn.edu/curej Part of the Comparative Politics Commons, Eastern European Studies Commons, European Law Commons, Human Rights Law Commons, International Relations Commons, Race and Ethnicity Commons, and the Soviet and Post-Soviet Studies Commons Recommended Citation Yeung, Esther Moriah, "National Minorities and European Union Accession: A Consideration of Communist Legacies and EU Conditionality in Central and Eastern Europe" 07 April 2020. CUREJ: College Undergraduate Research Electronic Journal, University of Pennsylvania, https://repository.upenn.edu/curej/239. This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/curej/239 For more information, please contact [email protected]. National Minorities and European Union Accession: A Consideration of Communist Legacies and EU Conditionality in Central and Eastern Europe Abstract The fall of communism in Central and Eastern Europe prompted Western Europe to integrate the region with European Union (EU) expansion. The collapse of the Eastern bloc was concerning to the West, which viewed the nationalist tensions in the region as having the potential to trigger destabilization and conflict. This thesis evaluates the treatment of Hungarian national minorities in three states that eventually joined the EU: Slovakia, Romania, and Slovenia. Marxist-Leninist legacies, in combination with democratization and EU membership, determined key differences in state compliance with EU national minority recommendations in the wake of membership. I identify how both communist-era legacies and European Union accession have shaped the treatment of national minorities – specifically Hungarian minorities – in each of the three cases. There are, however, additional variables that may shape majority and minority sentiment, and compliance with European Union conditionality. These are primarily domestic: the keenness of the state to achieve EU integration; the position of the state emerging from communism; the duration of EU accession; the relative size of the national minority group; and pre-communist historical events. The combination of domestic and international variables suggest that European Union conditionality is not sufficiento t understand national minority group treatment; rather, it is a combination of international pressure and domestic state politics that influences how national minority rights are granted, maintained, or regress. Keywords European Union, Central and Eastern Europe, communism, national minorities, Hungarian minorities, democracy, Social Sciences, Political Science, Brendan O'Leary, O'Leary, Brendan Disciplines Comparative Politics | Eastern European Studies | European Law | Human Rights Law | International Relations | Race and Ethnicity | Soviet and Post-Soviet Studies This article is available at ScholarlyCommons: https://repository.upenn.edu/curej/239 National Minorities and European Union Accession: A Consideration of Communist Legacies and EU Conditionality in Central and Eastern Europe By Esther Moriah Yeung Advisor: Dr. Brendan O’Leary This honors thesis is submitted in fulfillment of Bachelor of Arts Degree Department of Political Science with Distinction College of Arts and Sciences University of Pennsylvania 2020 Abstract The fall of communism in Central and Eastern Europe prompted Western Europe to integrate the region with European Union (EU) expansion. The collapse of the Eastern bloc was concerning to the West, which viewed the nationalist tensions in the region as having the potential to trigger destabilization and conflict. This thesis evaluates the treatment of Hungarian national minorities in three states that eventually joined the EU: Slovakia, Romania, and Slovenia. Marxist- Leninist legacies, in combination with democratization and EU membership, determined key differences in state compliance with EU national minority recommendations in the wake of membership. I identify how both communist-era legacies and European Union accession have shaped the treatment of national minorities – specifically Hungarian minorities – in each of the three cases. There are, however, additional variables that may shape majority and minority sentiment, and compliance with European Union conditionality. These are primarily domestic: the keenness of the state to achieve EU integration; the position of the state emerging from communism; the duration of EU accession; the relative size of the national minority group; and pre-communist historical events. The combination of domestic and international variables suggest that European Union conditionality is not sufficient to understand national minority group treatment; rather, it is a combination of international pressure and domestic state politics that influences how national minority rights are granted, maintained, or regress. 2 Acknowledgements This thesis marks the culmination of my four years at the University of Pennsylvania, and the end of a year of research dedicated to this thesis. Throughout my time at Penn, I have been blessed by countless individuals who have supported me academically, financially, and personally. I would first like express my deepest gratitude to my thesis advisor, Dr. Brendan O’Leary. His mentorship and steadfast guidance throughout the course of my research continued to push me to explore my passions in the field. Dr. O’Leary’s honest advice, constructive criticism, and encouragement have challenged me to become better, not only academically and professionally, but personally. I feel so honored to have been able to work under his guidance. I would also like to recognize and thank Dr. Eileen Doherty-Sil. Her humor and open door for conversation have always been a great reassurance to me and many of her students. This thesis would not have been possible without her constant support and care. In addition to both Dr. O’Leary and Dr. Doherty-Sil, I would like to thank the Department of Political Science at Penn. The classes and professors I learned from during my time as a student have been incredibly formative in shaping my passions and my worldview. This research would also not have been possible without the support of the Center for the Study of Ethnicity, Race, and Immigration. The funding I received through the CSERI Truman- Schulman Undergraduate Fellowship enabled me to travel to Brussels, Belgium to conduct research. While there, I was able to gain research experience and visit the Historical Archives of the European Commission and the European Commission’s Library and eResources. I must furthermore express my gratitude to the Archival Assistants and Librarians at both the Historical Archives of the European Commission and the European Commission’s Library and eResources. Their gracious assistance and accommodation during my visits immensely helped me in my data collection. In addition to their assistance, I would also like to acknowledge and thank Mr. Bob Deen, who was willing to share his experiences as Senior Adviser at the OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities. Lastly, I must acknowledge those who have sustained me personally. I first thank God; His steadfast guidance and love have continued to be with me throughout all of my life. I also remain forever indebted to my parents, Joseph and Winnie, and my two older brothers, Caleb and David. They have exemplified how to live a life by faith, hard work, and love for others. Without their unwavering love and encouragement to pursue my highest aspirations, I would not have become the person I am today. This thesis is dedicated to them. 3 Table of Contents Abstract ......................................................................................................................................... 2 Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................... 3 List of Maps .................................................................................................................................. 5 Glossary and Terminology .......................................................................................................... 6 List of Abbreviations .................................................................................................................. 10 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 11 Contribution and Hypothesis – National Minorities in Central and Eastern Europe: A Review – Data and Methods The Establishment of the Hungarian National Minority Diaspora ....................................... 20 The 1910 Austro-Hungarian Census – The Treaty of Trianon – Slovakia: National Minority Treatment after the Treaty of Trianon – Romania: National Minority Treatment after the Treaty of Trianon – Slovenia: National Minority Treatment after the Treaty of Trianon World War II and Post-War Communism .............................................................................. 28 World War II – Slovakia: World War II and Communist Repression – Romania: World War II and Increasing Repression Under Communism – Slovenia: