Osječki zbornik, Vol. Vol. 28 No. xx, 2007.
Review article
"Julian action" in Osijek region
Ivan Balta
; Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta J. J. Strossmayera
Abstract
"Julian Action" was active in the regions which did not belong to the so called narrow Hungary, especially Slavonia (the Osijek region) and were named after St. Julian.
"Julian Action" was conducted in Hungarian schools, but also in railway systems, cultural associations and religious schools in the period from 1904 to the end of the First World War.
"Julian Action" was conducted in Slavonia in the name of the so called "national defence of Hungarians" and by the policy of the "Hungarian national idea" (Magyar Allam eszme) because of an alleged danger for Hungarians. It was often called "Slavonian Action" and it had a peculiar methodology of implementation.
There have been, until now, opposing opinions in relation to the interpretation of the reasons of the action which ranged from approval of the action due to the preservation of identity, culture and language of the Hungarians who lived outside Hungary, to the contrary opinions about the political denationalisation and Hungarisation of Slavic people outside Hungary, especially in Slavonia. The action, thus, brought about views on both Hungarisation and the theory about Hungarians being endangered by assimilation.
"Julian Action" in the Osijek region can be observed simultaneously with an attempt of Germans to create so called Schulvereins outside Germany as a means of implementing the German ideology.
Julian schools could be established and run in Slavonia not only according to Hungarian laws but also according to the Croatian and Slavonian laws on schools which allowed for, and even encouraged the foundation of public and private schools, religious schools as well as schools in villages and factories. Such politics enabled "Julian Action" to spread in the Osijek region.
Thus, the period prior to the First World War saw the opening of Hungarian schools, construction of railways — all for the purpose of "Julian Action" which had political effects since the number of Hungarians went up several times in the Osijek area, however, not because of increasing birth rates.
"Julian Action" ended because of external influence, that is, the beginning of the First World War and the creation of new states on the territory of the former Austro- Hungarian Empire.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
154502
URI
Publication date:
5.12.2007.
Visits: 1.305 *