ABSTRACT
Immigration in contemporary Hungary is not a new phenomenon, but the democratic transition after 1989 brought with it a fundamental shift. At present, there is only 1.5–2 per cent of the population who are immigrants, the overwhelming majority of whom are ethnic Hungarians from neighbouring countries (mostly Romania) who aim to work, study or permanently settle in Hungary. Non-Europeans comprise only one-tenth of the immigrant population. The present legal and institutional frameworks of the country’s immigration policy have been laid down and formulated in the past 16 years, and are highly influenced by a peculiar characteristic of the immigrant population and migratory movements. Indeed, the dominant discourse in Hungary regarding foreigners is very much focused on issues related to the diaspora which are closely related to the Hungarian community on the other side of the border. Consequently, it is not surprising that the institutional and legal setting of immigrants’ participation overlaps with diaspora-related issues. Migration-related discourses in contemporary Hungary are mostly in the context of a shrinking Hungarian population, and of border control and security. Another aspect of migration policy debates is the issue of labour migration and its effect on the domestic labour market. The apparent contradiction between facilitated immigration and the government’s explicit aim to preserve ethnic Hungarian communities outside the country’s borders often shapes the outcome of these debates. The issue of immigrants’ civic participation is not a relevant issue in contemporary Hungary, and its direct legal regulation practically does not exist. Finally, there are three main types of immigrant community organizations identified in this paper: non-European human rights and advocacy organizations, Chinese cultural and commercial lobby groups, and ethnic Hungarian agencies.
