CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2014
| Author | Herner-Kovács, Eszter |
|---|---|
| Title | Diaspora Engagement through Birthright Program: Hungarian-Americans Encountering the Homeland |
| Summary | The thesis investigates the impacts of the Hungarian birthright journey, ReConnect Hungary by conducting semi-structured interviews with its participants. The analysis points out two different attitude patterns of the respondents. Those who are not so remote from their Hungarian heritage (usually first and second generation Hungarian Americans, having living family members who emigrated from Hungary) were less conscious about the programs of the trip, had less factual knowledge about the country, remembered names and places to a lesser extent, emphasized the “fun side” and community events of the programs, and tended to be very enthusiastic about Hungary. On the other hand, those who are further away from their Hungarian ancestors (usually third and fourth generations Hungarian Americans) were more conscious about the program, prepared individually for the journey (e.g. learning about Hungarian history or current affairs), had a clear view on the aim and structure of the schedule, remembered names and places significantly better, and appreciated the “fun side” and the “learning side” of the program equally. The outcome of the program was also partly affected by the “generational difference”: members of the first and second generation are more likely to develop (or reinforce) traces of symbolic ethnicity after the journey, but evoked interest in Hungary’s actual affairs does not occur in their case. Conversely, third and fourth generation participants tend to be even more genuinely interested in Hungary’s affairs after the trip, and they are more likely to develop effective engagement towards the country rather than (or besides) pursuing signs of symbolic ethnicity. |
| Supervisor | Pogonyi, Szabolcs |
| Department | Nationalism Studies MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2014/herner-kovacs_eszter.pdf |
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