Opposing Peripheralization?

A Case Study of Rural Social Enterprises in Hungary

Authors

  • Melinda Mihály Institute for Geography, Leipzig University

Keywords:

social and solidarity economy, peripheralization, rural social enterprises, ethnic studies, Hungary

Abstract

Since the collapse of state socialism in 1989 regional disparities have been growing considerably in Hungary. In particular, small settlements in structurally disadvantaged areas are affected by different dimensions of peripheralization processes, such as stigmatization (they are labelled as “lagged behind”, “backwards” or “underdeveloped” areas), selective migration, disconnection, dependence and social exclusion. In addition, social exclusion in Hungary has an ethnic dimension, as Roma people tend to concentrate in peripheralized areas. As a response to these processes, local initiatives, such as rural social enterprises or social and solidarity economy initiatives, have emerged, counting Roma people amongst their stakeholders.

Based on ethnographic methods the article examines the capacity of three rural social enterprises to counteract these peripheralization processes, particularly the dimensions of political dependence and social or ethnic exclusion. The analysis has two parts. On the one hand, this paper examines how the institutional basis (civilian-based, municipality-based or faith based social enterprise) influences the political autonomy of a social enterprise, its access to funding and consequently its room for maneuverability. On the other hand, this paper looks to which extent the so-called Gypsy-Hungarian differentiation (Kovai, 2018, Horváth, 2008, Horváth and Kovai, 2010) determines local realities in peripheralized villages and how rural social enterprises can empower Roma people and divert the differentiation between the conceptual “Gypsy” and the conceptual “Hungarian”. The findings suggest that only the civilian-based social enterprise reflects the racialized and gendered oppression of Roma and thus has the greatest potential concerning Roma empowerment. On the other hand, the civilian-based social enterprise faces the most severe structural and financial challenges due to the constraining institutional framework, which favors centralized organization structures.

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Interviews, field notes and locally produced documents
Anonymized source. 2011. A monography on Kispataks past, present and future, written by locals and local authorities.
Anonymized source. 2016. An overview of the complex development project in Tarnót.
Interview_H1_I1: Mayor of Kispatak, male, middle aged, key stakeholder of the SE, 23.03.2016, 145 min., transcribed.
Interview_H2_I4: alias Zsiga, leader of the Local Roma Municipality, male, middle aged, 06.05.2016, 60 min., transcribed.
Interview_H3_I1: minister of the Lutheran Congregation in Albertháza, official representative of the community apiculture, male, middle aged, key stakeholder of the SE, 23.03.2016 25 min., transcribed.
Interview_H3_I2: minister of the Lutheran Congregation in the neighbouring village of Albertháza, active in the community apiculture, key stakeholder of the SE, 23.03.2016, 120 min., transcribed.
Field_notes_H1: field visit for 3 days, 10–13.05.2016.
Field_notes_H2: field visit for 6 days, 2–7.05.2016.
Anikó: A Vlach Roma woman. The sister-in-law of Zsiga, a key employee of the Equality Foundation.
Zsiga: A Vlach Roma man, the president of the local Roma Minorities Self-Government. He is now a Public Work employee, but used to work abroad. He was also a colleague of the Equality Foundation for 6 months.
Marcsi: An elderly ethnic Hungarian woman, moved to Tarnót from Romania. Before working for the Foundation Marcsi used to run the local shop.
Rozi: A middle-aged, Romungro Roma woman. She is a regular employee of the Equality Foundation.
Field_notes_H3: field visit for 10 days, 8-12 and 14–15.08.2016, 04.09.2016, 5–6.08.2017.

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Published

2019-05-24

How to Cite

Mihály, M. (2019). Opposing Peripheralization? A Case Study of Rural Social Enterprises in Hungary. ACME: An International Journal for Critical Geographies, 18(2), 551–575. Retrieved from https://acme-journal.org/index.php/acme/article/view/1559

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Section

Themed Section - Acting Peripheries