Article of Aron Szele and Zselyke Tofalvi
Aron Szele and Zselyke Tofalvi published an article in the spring 2011 issue of the “Pro Minoritate” academic journal, entitled “A nemzettest formálása. Állampolgárság és nemzetiség Romániában” (Fashioning the national body. Citizenship and nationhood in contemporary Romania). Pro Minoritate is a scholarly journal, published in Hungary by the Pro Minoritate foundation, bringing together the latest research results in the field of minority studies and policy briefs. The article published by the CENS researchers concerns the recent developments in Romanian policy towards its citizenship and voting rights. The change in legal structure behind acquiring citizenship and the status of voter is presented, and the main actors of this change are identified. The ideological motivation behind the juridical conceptualization is nailed down as being the main catalyst, as well as domestic political mobilization, and certain possible legal consequences and conflicts with the EU aquis are pointed out. The article features an implicit comparative conclusion, that touches upon all similar legal efforts to regulate minority issues through extension of citizenship. The article may be read in English attached.