ABSTRACT
Hungary's geopolitical status was fundamentally recast in the course of the twentieth century, with its territory and frontiers changing dramatically twice through war and its aftermath. Although in terms of ethnicity, Hungary's neighbouring environment was relatively stable in the twentieth century, the importance and role of individual ethnic groups underwent dramatic changes. Global, continental and domestic developments as well as developments in neighbouring countries all influence the prevailing geopolitical situation of a given country and along its borders. In the twentieth century a constantly changing Hungary with constantly changing neighbours fitted in with the regional, economic and power structures in Europe. This overview of Hungary's changing geopolitical situation indicates that the country is a 'borderlands nation'. There is no region within Hungary that is not affected by events in neighbouring states or by cross-border flows of goods, capital or persons.
