Territorial Dimensions of Hungarian Ethnic Identity

After the First World War, the Allies redrew the boundaries of Europe, giving particular consideration to the distribution of ethnic groups. They believed that peace and stability could be fostered if each people could control its own territory and hence destiny. Therefore, the Allies created nation-states. The Hungarians, however, were particularly dissatisfied with the boundaries of their new nation-state and they became belligerent towards their neighboring states. While providing the Hungarians with a nation-state, the Allies failed to recognize the need to include territories that were particularly important to maintaining the Hungarians’ sense of ethnic identity. Until the Hungarians are able to control the territory that they have used to define their ethnic identity, they will continue to have disputes with neighboring states.