The Institute

The primary objective of the Institute is to carry out complex and interdisciplinary studies on the situation of the Hungarian and Roma minorities in the Central and Eastern European region, as well as the non-Hungarian minorities in Hungary, involving the fields of contemporary history, sociology, anthropology, sociolinguistics, law and political science. The Institute pursues basic research in the topics of changing languages and identities, models of minority self-government, minority institutions, interethnic relations and conflicts, as well as migration processes. At the same time, the Institute carries out applied research in support of the educational, cultural, linguistic, regional and local programmes of development concerning minority community building.

Furthermore, one of the other prime objectives of the Institute are the initiation and organization of Hungarian and international programmes of minority studies, the deepening of an interdisciplinary approach to minority studies, the establishment of extensive international scientific relations and a multifarious, comparative approach to the dynamic ethnic and minority processes taking place in Central and Eastern as well as in Western Europe.

Another important goal of the Institute is to create integrated ethnic databases that can facilitate the basic and applied research on minorities. Based on research findings, the Institute formulates conclusions and recommendations for the political decision-makers responsible for minority issues, regarding the 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, scientific publications, workshop discussions, as well as by establishing research networks, participating in international competitions, organizing and participating in national and international professional conferences.

The frame institute form permits the researchers to cooperate as members of local, regional, international and functionally separate teams as well, in addition to realizing their own, independent research projects. There is a possibility to occasionally involve outside researchers in the projects as well and to participate in the work of other institutes.

The research activities of the institute are carried out in six units: research group of Hungarian minorities living in the neighbouring countries, research group of minorities living in Hungary, research group of Roma minorities of Hungary and the Central and Eastern European region, Centre for Migration and Refugee Studies, Centre of Jewish Studies, documentation and data base group.