The Institute

The Research Institute of Ethnic and National Minorities was founded on 1st January 2001 on the basis of the former Academic Minority Research Workshop. Its main mission is to carry out complex and interdisciplinary studies on Hungarian and Roma minorities in Central and Eastern Europe, and national and ethnic minorities in Hungary - in the fields of contemporary history, sociology, anthropology, sociolinguistics, law and political science. The Institute pursues basic research on the history of minorities, the legal status and political participation of minorities, the identity construction and discrimination of minorities including immigrants and Roma. In addition, the Institute carries out applied research to support educational, cultural, linguistic, regional and local development programmes in relation to minorities.

One of the prime objectives of the Institute is to initiate and organize Hungarian and international research projects on minorities; to develop interdisciplinary approaches in minority studies; to build an international research network in order to carry out comparative studies on the complex dynamics of ethnic and minority processes in Central and Eastern as well as in Western Europe.

Another important objective of the Institute is to create databases on the history of minorities, on the legal situation and institutions of minorities in order to facilitate the basic and applied research on minorities. Based on research findings, the Institute formulates conclusions and recommendations for decision-makers and stakeholders on minorities in Hungary, the Hungarian minorities of the neighbouring countries and the Roma communities. The orientation of the activities of the Institute is characterized by responsiveness to current ethnic problems, the study of fundamental ethnic processes and phenomena on the level of basic research, an interdisciplinary approach and an aspiration to international professional integration.

The Institute wishes to achieve the above objectives by means of independent and joint research programmes, establishing research networks, participating in international research projects, scientific publications, as well as by organizing and participating in national and international professional conferences and workshops.

At present the following research groups function in the Institute: history – law; sociology, and anthropology. In addition, the Centre of Jewish Studies and the Centre for Migration and Refugee Studies also operate under the auspices of the Institute.