JOURNAL of GEOGRAPHY, POLITICS AND SOCIETY
Transkrypt
JOURNAL of GEOGRAPHY, POLITICS AND SOCIETY
Journal of Geography, Politics and Society, ISSN 2084-0497 Year I, no. 2, December 2011 gpsj our@ug. edu.pl T H E CHANGES O F SOCIAL ST R U C T U R E AN D LIFE C O NDITIO NS IN ROM ANIAN C ITIES (CASE STU D Y O F O RADEA ) Ja n A. WENDT U niversity of G d ansk, D e p a rtm en t of G eography a n d R egional D evelopm ent, 4 B ażyńskiego str., 8 0-952 G d an sk , P oland & U niversity of O rad ea, D e p a rtm en t of G eography, T ourism a n d T erritorial Planning, 1 U niversity str., 41 0 0 8 7 O radea, R om ania E-mail: jan .w en d t@ u g .ed u .p l Alexandru ILIE§ U niversity of O radea, D e p a rtm en t of G eography, T o u rism a n d T erritorial Planning, 1 U niversity str., 41 0 0 8 7 O radea, R om ania & U niversity of G d ansk, D e p a rtm en t of G eography a n d Regional D evelopm ent, 4 B ażyńskiego str., 8 0-952 G d a n sk , Poland E-mail: ilies@ uoradea.ro C orina TATAR U niversity of O radea, D e p a rtm en t of G eography, T ourism a n d T erritorial Planning, 1 U niversity str., 41 0 0 8 7 O radea, R om ania E-mail: corina_criste_78@ yahoo.com Summary: D uring th e period of th e socialist regim e O radea played th e role of a n im p o rta n t in d u s tria l a n d ad m in istra tiv e centre. N ow adays, O radea, w ith its over 200 th o u s a n d citizens c a n be a good exam ple of th e system , in te rm s of th e econom ic a n d social tra n sfo rm atio n p rocess. T he pro cesses, w h ich ta k e place in O radea, h a d a typical ru n , c h a ra c te ristic for m u lti - e th n ic cities. The b o rd er location of O radea is conductive to a n in term in g lin g of id eas, people, cap ital a n d th e w estern style of life, w h ich triggers faste r c h a n g es co m p ared to th e o th er R om anian cities of B an at, C rięana, M a ra m u re s a n d T ransylvania. T his p a p e r a tte m p ts to analyze th e c h a n g es in te rm s of ethnicity, language, religion w ithin th e city a n d sh o w th e p ro c e ss of social s tr u c tu r a l c h a n g e s of O radea. T he ran g e 19 of c h a n g e s along w ith th e p ro ce ss existing before se em s to deepen. O n th e one h a n d , th e p ro c e ss of H u n g a ria n , G e rm a n a n d Je w ish m in o rities’ m ig ratio n is clearly seen. T he negative ra te of b irth a n d th e negative b a la n c e of th e e x te rn al m ig ratio n eq u alise th e in te rn a l m ig ratio n only to a sm all extent, w h ich in th is case in c lu d e s m ainly th e R o m a n ia n s a n d th e R om a p o p u latio n . T he n ew in v estm e n ts, m ain ly w ith e x te rn al ca p ital allow ed th e city to develop w id esp read a n d in c re a se th e life s ta n d a rd . A p ro p er city policy in te rm s of euroregional co-operation allow s O ra d e a to engage in m a n y in v estm en ts, w h ich a re also com m on for th e H u n g a ria n side a n d trig g ers a b e tte r developm ent of th e city. We s h o u ld also ta k e into co n sid e ratio n a n e d u c atio n a l im p ro v em en t th a n k s to w h ich th e city becam e th e m o st im p o rta n t a n d th e larg e st s tu d y c e n tre in th e n o rth -w e s te rn p a rt of th e country. A very c ru cial a lte rn a tio n took place in th e in d u s try a n d service b ra n c h e s. T he p erc e n ta g e of w o rk ers em ployed in m in in g activities a n d pow er c o m p an ies d e c re a sed a n d th e p ercen tag e of w o rk ers em ployed in e d u catio n , to u rism a n d tra d e h a s in creased . The very co nvenient location of th e co m m u n icatio n w ays, a t th e ju n c tio n of tra n s p o rt ro ad s, m a k e th e city a n im p o rta n t co m m u n ic a tio n s’ c e n tre a s well. Keywords: p ro ce ss of tra n sfo rm atio n , lin g u istic s tru c tu re , e th n ic s tru c tu re , religious s tru c tu re , life q u ality , m ig ratio n , social s tru c tu re , econom ical changes. *** In tro d u ctio n O ra d ea is a city located on th e w e ste rn p a rt of th e H u n g a ria n Low land, in th e ravine of th e C risu l Repede River, in th e B ihor M o u n tain s. D uring th e period of th e so cialist regim e, till th e R evolution, th is is th e m o st com m on n am e for th e R om anian tu rn in g p oint, in 1989, O rad ea played th e role of a very im p o rta n t in d u s tria l cen tre. A lum inium m etallurgy, h u g e m ach in e factories a n d p ro d u c tio n of b u ild in g m a te ria ls existed th e re . O rad ea WAS a local ad m in istrativ e cen tre of th e B ihor c o u n ty a s well. Being a typical in d u s tria l city, O radea c an be a good exam ple of th e system , econom ical, a n d social tra n sfo rm a tio n p ro cess. N ow adays, O rad ea h a s m ore th a n 200 th o u s a n d citizens a n d is one of th e biggest city c e n tre s of th e second level in th e R om anian cities h ie ra rc h ic lay o u t (Territorial P lan n in g of N ational T erritory 1991). C onsidering 20 th e above inform ation, e ith e r reg ard in g th e size or o th e r fe a tu re s, th e city is re p re se n ta tiv e for th e seven p ro b ab il regions, w hich have over-regional m e a n in g .1 It is typical a s well for th e s e t of seventy-fou r cities from th e seco n d h ie ra rc h ic level (Ianoę, T alan g a 1994, W endt 2003b). C onsidering th e v a rio u s e th n ic s tru c tu re s (sim ilar to fo u r from th e seven h isto ric a l geographical regions w hich th e m o d e rn R o m an ia c o n sists of) we c an p re s e n t a n a n a ly sis of social s tr u c tu r e ’s m odification of v a rio u s e th n ic s tru c tu re s (Pop 1991, Ilieę 1998), a n d som e c h an g e s of c ertain fe a tu re s of th e tra n sfo rm a tio n process. The p ro c e sses w hich ta k e place in O ra d e a have a typical ru n , c h a ra c te ristic for m u lti - e th n ic cities of form er H ungary. The b o rd e r location of O ra d e a is conductive to a n in term in g lin g of id e as, people, cap ital a n d th e w e ste rn style of life, w hich acc e lerate s th e c h an g e s co m p ared to th e o th e r R om anian cities of C rię an a a n d T ran sy lv an ia (B enedek, Nagy 2003). The tra n s b o rd e r lo cation of th e city, divided by th e H u n g a ria n R o m an ian b o rd e r in B ihor - H ajd u B ih ar region h a s a n im p a c t on th e developm ent of in te rn a tio n a l co o p eratio n in th e a re a (W endt 2003a), w here th e city fu n c tio n s in two eu ro reg io n s2 w ith own active in p u t (Ilieę, H orga 2001). C om pared to o th e r R o m an ian cities, th e p ro c e ss of th e sy ste m ’s tra n sfo rm a tio n a n d p ercep tio n of d em ocracy goes q u ick er (W endt 2 002, 2003). The c h a ra c te ristic of th e social s tru c tu re v a ria tio n s w as m a d e by a n aly sin g th e s tru c tu re ch an g es: eth n ic, religion a n d lan g u ag e am ong th e citizens of O ra d e a also try in g to p e n e tra te th e re a so n s of th e p ro cesses. The c h an g e s in th e s tru c tu re of th e p o p u latio n in O ra d e a a p p e a r to have a sim ilar ru n , com m on for th e m o st R om an ian cities in C rięana, T ransylvania, M aram u reę a n d B a n a t region. However, it is no ticed th a t th e re is a very special scale a n d ra te of c h an g es w hich ta k e place in O ra d e a in co m p ariso n to th e re s t of th e cities in n o rth e rn , w e ste rn a n d c e n tra l R o m an ia e.g.: in B aia 1 In the hierarchic Romanian city layout, the capital is on the level “0”, and on the level “ 1” there are: Iasi, Brasow, Cluj-Napoca, Constanta, Craiova, Galati, and Timisoara. 2 Euroregions including Oradea: ”Karpaty”, “Dunarea-Cris-Mures-Tisa”, and transborder co-operation of Bihor and Hajdu Bihar regions. 21 M are, T im isoara, C luj-N apoca. T he re se a rc h e d social s tru c tu re c h an g es, negative ra te of b irth , negative m ig ratio n b a lan c e , re em igration linked w ith th e H u n g a ria n cap ital sto c k have a n influence on th e p h e n o m e n a ta k in g place in th e cities of th e m en tio n ed regions. T he d e v e lo p m e n t o f th e c ity before th e R ev o lu tio n The city’s ro o ts c a n be tra c e d a t th e b eg in n in g of th e 10th c en tu ry , a lth o u g h som e n o te s a b o u t s e ttle m e n ts in th e region com e from th e B ronze Age. In th e 10 th c en tu ry , B iharia, w hich is in th e n eig h b o u rh o o d of O rad ea, becam e a cen tre of M e n u m o ru t’s country. The city co-o p erated w ith th e B yzantine E m pire a n d its in h a b ita n ts becam e O rthodox C h ristia n s. The p re s e n t O rad ea ad o p ted B ih aria fu n c tio n s in H u n g a ria n Kingdom tim e, w hich a t th e en d of 11th c e n tu ry took p o sse ssio n of p a rts of p re s e n t R o m an ia; C risa n a a n d p a rt of T ransylvania, m ak in g O rad ea a R o m an-C atholic b ish o p ric. The ep iscopate beg an a n action to convert th e people to R om anC atholic religion. The first w ritten info rm atio n a b o u t th e city com es from 1113, w h en V arad in u m (Rom. O radea; H un. Nagy V arad; Pol. W ielki W aradyn) w as p re se n te d a s th e la rg e st se ttle m e n t of th e region, w hich to o k over th e fu n c tio n s of th e m a in cen tre in ru in , i.e. B iharia. At th e b eg in n in g of th e 13th cen tu ry , in th e M iddle Ages, O rad ea-lo cated betw een T ran sy lv an ia a n d e th n ic a re a s of th e H u n g a ria n K ingdom becam e a n im p o rta n t tra d e centre. Also a citad el w as b u ilt th e re to p ro te c t O ra d e a ’s citizens. The s h o rt period of T u rk ish ru le in th e 17th c e n tu ry en d ed w ith th e A u stro -H u n g a ria n in co rp o ratio n of th e region a n d b ro u g h t m a n y ch an g e s to O radea. The la tte r, after jo in in g H ungary, becam e th e la rg e st C atholic cen tre in a t th a t tim e in R o m an ian te rrito ry a n d w as developing th a n k s to its convenien t tra d e location. The city h a d its econom ic boom in 19th c e n tu ry w h en a lot of city m a n o rs em erged a n d th e city re a ch e d its p re s e n t u rb a n an d a rch itecto n ic sh ap e . At th e beginn in g of 2 0 th c e n tu ry th e city h a d first la n te rn s, a new Town Hall, electric pow er in sta lla tio n s a n d a tram lin e. In th e m iddle of 19 th c en tu ry , O rad ea M are (the G reat O radea) c o n sisted of O rad ea - Olosig, O ra d ea - O ra su l Nou, O rad ea - S u b c e ta te a n d O rad ea V elenta a n d w as a m u ltic u ltu ra l city, w hich h a d a b o u t 18 th o u s a n d citizens. 22 T here w ere n o t only H u n g a ria n m in o rities b u t also R om anian, S ax o n s a n d Jew s. O rad ea becam e e ith e r a sig n ifican t in d u s try (m ining in d u stry ) or fin an cial a n d tra d e cen tre th a n k s to H u n g a ria n a n d G erm an in v e stm en ts. F u rth erm o re , in th e sam e tim e, th e city a p p e a re d to be a cru cial e d u catio n al, c u ltu ra l a n d a rt cen tre a n d also a p o p u la r h e a lth re so rt fam o u s for Baile Felix (Felix Spa) located n earb y . For th e H a b sb u rg E urope of th a t tim e, O rad ea w as a k in d of a gate leading to th e e a st, to th e B lack Sea. After th e F irst W orld W ar, O radea becam e a p a rt of th e R o m an ian K ingdom a n d for a very s h o rt tim e cam e b a c k to H u n g ary w h en th e S econd W orld W ar ended. In socialist R om ania, u n til th e R evolution of 1989, O radea w as a n ad m in istrativ e cen tre of th e B ihor region a n d w as developing in a typical w ay for so cialist cities. The period of th e c e n tra l p la n n in g econom y in R om anian cities unfolded in a very sim ilar w ay to o th e r cities of th e region w hich w as typical for th e to w n s of so cialist E urope (D om ański 1997). The m a in fe a tu re s of p o st-so cia list cities of R om ania - v e rs u s sim ilar Polish c e n tre s w h ich differ from th e view point of th e m a rk e t econom y o n es - are: in d u s tria l em ploym ent, full c e n tra lisa tio n of a d m in istra tio n , accid e n tal social s tru c tu re of settled people a n d politics d ep en d in g on th e capital. W h at is m ore, a rch itecto n ic m onotony a n d d isresp ectfu l value of th e a re a are observed (Węcławowicz 1996). T here is a clearly seen su p re m a c y of th e h u g e accom m odation com plexes often devoid of a c c u ra te service in fra s tru c tu re in th e fu n ctio n al s tru c tu re of R o m an ian cities in co m p ariso n to Polish tow ns. U n fo rtu n ately , th e decay of old d istric ts is also noticed a n d typical for m a n y R om anian cities. The decay is co n n ected w ith th e problem of th e still n o t re g u la ted e sta te p ro p erty law e ith e r of th e to w n ’s a re a or its buildings. T he very com plicated p a s t of th e region strongly left its im p re ss on th e social s tru c tu re c h an g e s leaving th e region ethnically different w ith a m ore restrictiv e to ta lita ria n system . T he c h a n g e s o f e th n ic a l, relig io n and language str u c tu r e s in Oradea after th e year 1 9 9 0 The m odification of th e social s tru c tu re in clu d in g eth n ic, religious a n d linguistic e lem en ts s ta n d s o u t a s th e m o st im p o rta n t ch an g e s d u rin g th e tra n sfo rm a tio n period in O radea a n d th e rem ain in g R om an ian cities. In 2 0 0 3 , O radea 23 h a d 2 0 6 ,5 th o u s a n d citizens w hich w as one th ird of B ihor c o u n ty ’s p o p u la tio n a n d 72% p o p u latio n of th e cities in th e region. W hat is typical for th e cities of s u c h ex ten t, w ith d o m in a n t ad m in istrativ e, e d u ca tio n a l a n d service fu n c tio n s, is th e ra te of fem inism w ith 110% w hile 52,4% is th e p a rtic ip a tio n of w om en in th e w hole n u m b e r of citizen s3. T ab.1. C h an g es in th e e th n ic al s tru c tu re of O ra d e a ’s p o p u la tio n s_________ _____________ _____________ _____________ 2002 1992 2 0 0 2 /1 9 9 2 E th n ica l g ro u p s (%) (%) (%) R om a p o p u latio n 1,19 0,9 5 125,26 R o m an ian s 7 0 ,3 5 6 4 ,4 3 109,19 Slovaks 85,71 0,18 0,21 H u n g a ria n s 27,51 3 3 ,5 8 81,92 G erm an s 0,27 0,43 6 2 ,7 9 News 0,08 0,13 6 1 ,5 3 B ulgarian 0,01 0,02 5 0,00 O th ers 0,41 0,2 5 160,00 Source: O w n d a ta b a se d on D irectia J u d e te a n a de S ta tis tic a B ihor, 2002, O radea. The average ra te of o ccupan cy - w here th e a re a is 111,2 sq. km - w as 1857 people p e r sq. km a n d le sse n e d in c o m p ariso n to th e y e a r 1992 a t a b o u t 7,2% . The d ecrease of citizens in th e social s tru c tu re of th e cities see m s to be th e m o st im p o rta n t change. In 2 002, th e n u m b e r of b irth s w as of 2 2 89, th e n u m b e r of d e a th s w as of 1875 a n d it a p p e a rs to have a d ecreased value equalling 4 14 w h ich m a k e s th e ra te of b irth -2 . A dditionally, th e b a lan c e of m ig ratio n goes to g eth er w ith th e decline of b irth a n d h igh d e a th ra te . The p h e n o m en o n is co n n ected w ith th e g re a t n u m b e r of d e p a rtu re s of R o m an ian H u n g a ria n s, G e rm a n s a n d Jew ish . However, th e d o m in a n t im p act on m igration refers to th e H u n g a ria n m inority. In 2002, th e n u m b e r of refugees w as of 1909 people, w hile th e n u m b e r of e m ig ra n ts w as of 1665 w hich gives a negative (minus) b a lan c e of m ig ratio n equalled 244 people. In one y ear, to g eth er w ith th e regressive b irth ra te , th e p o p u la tio n of O ra d e a 3 The following data are based on: Directia Judeteana de Statistica Bihor,2002, Oradea 24 declined a t a b o u t 658 people w hich is 3,2% a n d d u rin g th e exam ined period of tim e-w hich m e a n s th e y e a rs 1992-2002declined a t 17,3 th o u s a n d w hich is 8%. W hile analyzing th e above p re se n te d d a ta it sh o u ld be co n sid ered th a t th e facts illu stra te only a k in d of “n u m e ric al dim en sio n ” w hich, in fact, w ith o u t ad d itio n al, m ore detailed re s e a rc h e s is very difficult to analyze. W ith o u t th e inform ation a b o u t th e n u m b e r of b irth s a n d d e a th s (for in sta n ce : R om a p o p u latio n , R om anians), it is very difficult to say in w hich p a rt of th e tab le, th e in c re m e n t of R om a p o p u latio n in O rad ea is a re s u lt of a positive b irth ra te , a n d in w hich p a rt it is th e re s u lt of m igration. D espite th e above pro b lem s, only th e info rm atio n a b o u t th e size of o th e r c h an g e s illu s tra te s - only in a w ay - th e city’s pow er of in te ra c tio n on a ch o sen e th n ic group. D uring th e tim e of investigation, th e n u m b e r of citizens d ecrea se d from 2 2 3 ,8 th o u s a n d in 1992 to 2 0 6 ,5 th o u s a n d in 2002.T he biggest c h a n g e s in e th n ic a l s tru c tu re to o k place am ong th e G erm an, Je w ish a n d B u lg arian m inorities. The R om anian G e rm a n s w as th e biggest m in o rity co n sid erin g th e n u m b e r of em ig ran ts. From th e w hole n u m b e r of G erm an citizens, 40% left for G erm any, m ain ly d u e to econom ical re a so n s (B enedek, S c h re ib e r 2001). The sam e s itu a tio n s focus to th e R om anian Je w ish from O rad ea w ho em ig rated to Israel or th e U nited S ta te s. A dditionally it sh o u ld be rem em b ered th a t O rad ea w as th e biggest cen tre of R o m an ian Je w s a n d a stro n g financial cen tre also. We c a n still adm ire its h eritag e by looking a t th e city’s a rc h ite c tu re in clu d in g th e synagogue. The m igration p ro c e ss of th e R o m an ian H u n g a ria n s u n fo ld s in a very sim ilar w ay to th e one m en tio n ed above b u t on a larg er scale a n d is p a rtic u la rly well observed am ong th e y o u th a n d people w ith h ig h e r e d u catio n . The la s t su rv ey ta k e n in O rad ea a n d C luj-N apoca show ed th a t n e arly 45% of H u n g a ria n y o u th is going to leave R om ania for H u n g ary for good or for studying. However, th e econom ical m otivation -in th is c a s e -h a s a le sse r m ean in g th a n in th e R o m an ian H u n g a ria n s ’ case w hich d ifferen tiates th e m from th e R om anian G erm ans. The R om an ian H u n g a ria n s p u t on th e first place fam ily co n n ectio n s w hich are very stro n g in th is region m ak in g th e a d a p ta tio n p ro c e ss e asie r (Benedek, Nagy 2003). The ad d itio n al facto r w hich m a k e s th e H u n g a ria n m ore a ttra ctiv e is- c re ate d by th e Prim e M inister V. O rb an - pro25 H u n g a ria n politics w hich w as in s titu tio n a l in its c h a ra c te r a n d w as a re a so n of m an y in te rp o la tio n s in th e H u n g a ria n a n d R om anian P a rliam en t.4 N o n eth eless a t th e en d of 9 0 s a decrease of R o m a n ian -H u n g a ria n m ig ratio n is observed (Horga, Brie 2001). It is n o t co n n ected w ith th e d ecreasin g m igratory te n d en c y b u t r a th e r w ith th e g ro u p s of em ig ran ts getting sm aller a n d sm aller. The clear p ro g ress of th e city R om anizing c a u s e s th e c h a n g e s in e th n ic s tru c tu re sim ilarly in all th e region of C rięan a a n d T ran sy lv an ia (B enedek, Nagy 2003). The e sse n tia l outflow of H u n g a ria n a n d G erm an p o p u latio n is b a lan c e d by th e p ro c e ss of m ig ratio n to O radea, w hich in c lu d e s m ainly th e R o m an ian people com ing from ru ra l regions a n d th e Rom a po p u latio n . As we c a n observe, a t p re se n t, th e p ercen tag e of th e R om a p o p u la tio n am ong th e city’s p o p u la tio n w as en larg ed a t a b o u t 0.7% a n d 15.4%, enlarging th e to ta l a m o u n t of O ra d e a ’s p o p u la tio n a t a b o u t 1400. The significant influence on th e city m ig ratio n ch an g ed th e city fu n ctio n s, w hich m ade O rad ea - from a d o m in a n t in d u s tria l a n d also m ilitary cen tre to a serv ice-o rien ted city w ith e d u ca tio n a l, to u ris t a n d m edical c h a ra c te r. We sh o u ld em phasize th e special ed u ca tio n a l fu n ctio n of th e city, w hich h a s fo u r u n iv ersities. More th a n 30 th o u s a n d s tu d e n ts a tte n d th e la rg e st of th e m , w hich is a s ta te un iv ersity . M any of th e s tu d e n ts com e from rem ote p la ce s of O radea. It com es a s n a tu ra l a s th e U niversity of O rad ea p lay s a regional role encircling its influence on th e n o rth e rn a n d n o rth -w e ste rn p a rt of th e c o u n try b e c a u se th e closest u n iv e rsitie s are only in ClujN apoca a n d T im isoara. The v a ria tio n s in th e linguistic a n d religious s tru c tu re are a re s u lt of th e m igration p ro c e ss w here th e d ep en d en ce is p roportional. W hen co m paring th e d a ta p re se n tin g th e e th n ic al origin a n d lan g u ag e differences we c an observe th a t th e group w hich is th e m o st linked w ith th e ir ow n lan g u ag e are th e Slovaks a n d th e G reeks (Bente 2001). At th e s a m e tim e we c an observe m a n y - a b o u t 1.2 th o u s a n d co n sid erin g H u n g a ria n and 0.7 th o u s a n d con sid erin g R o m an ian lan g u ag e 4 The Hungarian government accepted the financial support for Romanian citizens who are going to study or work in Hungary what met diplomatic intervention of Romanian government. 26 su p p le m e n ta ry differences in relatio n to th e n u m b e r of people d eclaring th e ir e th n ic m em b ersh ip . To p u t it in a n o th e r w ay, it inevitably m a k e s th e R o m an ian lan g u ag e m ore attractiv e a s a form al lan g u ag e a n d H u n g a ria n lan g u ag e, w hich c a n be th e effect of th e in c re ase of e th n ic co n scio u s am o n g th e people w ho com e from m ixed m a rria g e s (M uresan 1999). T ab.2. C h an g es in th e s tru c tu re of th e m a te rn a l lan g u ag e referring to O ra d e a ’s p o p u la tio n _____________ _____________ 2002 1992 2 0 0 2 /1 9 9 2 E th n ica l g ro u p s (%) (%) (%) R om ani language 0,4 7 0,52 110,63 R om anian 109,04 70,68 64,82 Slovakian 85,71 0,18 0,21 H u n g a ria n 28,10 3 3 ,5 9 8 3 ,6 5 G erm an 0,17 60,71 0,2 8 O th er lan g u ag es 0,35 0,6 3 55,56 Source: Own d a ta b a s e d on D irectia J u d e te a n a de S ta tistica B ihor, 2002, O radea. W hen we com pare th e n u m b e r of people w ho declare th e ir e th n ic a n d language m em b ersh ip we sh a ll n otice th a t th e stro n g e st e th n ic group in O rad ea w h ich is b e st assim ila te d is th e G erm an group a n d th e R om a p o p u latio n . In th e case of G erm an s, in th e y e a r 1992, 67% of people d eclared G erm an a s th e m o th e r to n g u e w hile te n y e a rs la te r only 63% did. In th e case of th e R om a p o p u latio n th e n u m b e r w as le sse n in g in sim ilar w ay, from 50% in 1992 to 46% in 2 0 0 2 . B u t for th e h erm etic p o p u la tio n of th e R om a p o p u latio n , u sin g a n d d eclaring th e language, w hich is a ro u n d a s a m o th e r to n g u e is typical. All in all, on th e te rrito rie s in h a b ite d by th e R om anian or H u n g a ria n R om a p o p u latio n , R o m an ian or H u n g a ria n la n g u ag e s are d eclared a s m o th e r to n g u es. The very c ru c ial factor of th e social c h an g es, th o u g h difficult to p re s e n t in th e s ta tistic s , is th e life d e m o cratisa tio n a n d th e beg in n in g s of civic society creation. T h a n k s to th is change, som e people of H u n g a ria n origin, w ho previously d eclared R o m an ian a s a m o th e r to n g u e, now declare H u n g a ria n b a c k (Horga, Brie 2001). W h at is m ore, know ing H u n g a ria n h e lp s to find legal or even illegal jo b in H u n g ary in case of m igration (Balaęco 2003). 27 However, w h en we com pare th e eth n ic, religious a n d lin g u istic m odification we have to n o tice th a t th e d eep est c h a n g e s to o k place in th e religious sp h ere. A dditionally we have to say th a t th e p re s su re of th e sy stem on th e religious sp h ere w as th e stro n g e st. It w as th e d e m o n stra tio n in T im iso ara - m e a n t to p ro te c t th e H u n g a ria n V icar Laszlo Tokes - w hich s ta rte d th e R om anian R evolution. W hen we look a t th e problem of religious a tta c h m e n t in a tra d itio n a l way, after m a k in g som e sim plification, it c a n be said th a t, positively, th e m ajo rity of R om anian e th n ic people are O rthodox or G reekcatholic (D am sa 1994), H u n g a ria n a n d G erm an e th n ic people are R om an-catholic or Calvin (Zam firescu 1992). A ccording to th e d a ta p re se n te d in th e above tab le, th e g re a te s t c h an g es took place j u s t in th e th re e religious groups. T ab.3. C h an g es in th e religious s tru c tu re of O ra d e a ’s p o p u latio n ___________________________________________________ 2002 1992 2 0 0 2 /1 9 9 2 E th n ica l g ro u p s (%) (%) (%) Evangelic CA 0,17 0,1 0 170,00 A dventist 167,67 0,30 0.1 8 P en teco stal 4,66 3,5 6 130,90 A theism (as a n idea) 0,11 0,0 9 122,22 B ap tist 3 ,0 4 3,58 117,76 Evangelic PS 0,14 116,67 0,12 O rthodox 5 8,94 55,02 107,12 G reek-catholic 99,41 3,38 3,4 0 R om an - catholic 11,26 13,28 8 4 ,7 9 Alvin 16,15 19,60 8 2 ,4 0 U n itarian 0 ,1 4 7 8 ,5 7 0,11 Mozaic 6 1 ,5 4 0,08 0,1 3 W ithout religion 1,34 1,12 8 3 ,5 8 Source: O w n d a ta b a se d on D irectia J u d e te a n a de S ta tis tic a B ihor, 2002, O radea. Am ong th e six c h u rc h e s w hich have m o re th a n one th o u s a n d m e m b e rs in th e y e ar 1992 like O rthodox, Calvin, R om an-catholic, P en teco stal, G reek C atholic, B ap tist, only th e P en teco stal a n d B a p tists conso lid ated th e ir position. The Calvin a n d R o m an-catholic c h u rc h e s h a d se rio u s lo o ses co nsidering th e n u m b e r of c h u rc h e s ’ m e m b e rs, w hich lessen ed 28 from 10.5 th o u s a n d to 6 .5 th o u s a n d in th e exa m ined tim e. C om pared to th e p a rtic ip a tio n p ercen tag e of th e e th n ic group a n d religious group in 2 0 0 2 , we m ay a ss e rt, th a t th e n u m b e rs of R om an-catholic a n d Calvin c h u rc h m e m b e rs is sim ilar to th e p ercen tag e of th e H u n g a ria n m inority. However, w h en we c o n sid er th a t 70% of th e people in th e city are R om an ian , we c an notice th a t only 62% d eclared O rthodox a n d G reekcatholic m em b ersh ip . In th e la tte r case- I m e a n co n sid erin g th e G reek-catholic c h u rc h - a n d sim ilarly O rthodox C h u rch , we sh o u ld s ta te th a t m issio n activities are very visible especially in P entecostal, Evangelic CA a n d A dventist c h u rc h . Even so, looking a t th e w eak en in g O rthodox C h u rc h we c an notice a k in d of you n g developm ent in R o m an ian c h u rc h e s like: A dventist, Evangelic CA, P en teco stal, B ap tist, a n d Evangelic PS. E ach of th e m en tio n ed c h u rc h e s in c re a se d its n u m b e r of m em b ers in th e d escrib ed tim e a t a b o u t 7% of Evangelic PS, to even 50% of A dventist. T ruly sp eak in g , w h en we c o n sid er th e P en teco stal a n d B ap tist c h u rc h e s we deal w ith g ro u p s c o u n tin g le ss th a n one th o u s a n d m e m b e rs a n d we have to ad d th a t th e n u m b e r of conversion c an be alarm in g in th e O rthodox C h u rch . W hen we c o n sid er th e c h an g e s in th e O rthodox an d G reek-catholic c h u rc h e s we will notice th a t th e c h an g e s in R om an-catholic a n d Calvin c h u rc h e s are e asie r to explain. The decrease of w o rsh ip p e rs is strictly lin k ed w ith th e em igration p ro c e sses of H u n g a ria n a n d G e rm a n origin people an d unfavorable d em ographic a n d e th n ic s tru c tu re of th o se g roups. It is observed th a t only y o u n g people u su a lly em igrate a n d th e old o n es alternatively lim it th e n u m b e r of w o rsh ip p ers, w hich is- b esid es th e m ig ratio n p ro c e sses - co n n ected w ith th e n a tu ra l p ro c e ss of h u m a n ch an g es. R egarding th e correlation betw een e th n ic g ro u p s an d religion d eclared by R om anian, H u n g a ria n a n d G erm an citizens we have to say th a t th e re s e a rc h e s m ad e for th e Roma p o p u latio n seem s to be very in te re stin g . In general, th e R om a p o p u latio n d eclares to belong to th e religious com m unity, w hich is d o m in a n t in th e region th e y live. F o r in sta n c e th e Rom a p o p u latio n , w ho lives am ong th e R o m an ian s, very often declare to be O rthodox a n d th o se w ho live am o n g th e H u n g a ria n s declare to be R om an-C atholic (Zamfir, Zam fir 1993). S u c h s itu a tio n m ay be seen in th e light of a tte m p tin g to 29 avoid p o ssibilities of an y conflicts w hich could ev entually com e from a classic relation; w e-the stra n g e rs. The s itu a tio n of th e Rom a p o p u latio n , w ho live in a s u b -s ta n d a rd d istric t of th e city, is different. T hey m ainly d escrib ed th em selv es a s a people w ith o u t an y religion. C h an ges in th e life c o n d itio n s in Oradea O radea is a city w hich p rob ab ly m ostly b en efitted from political a n d econom ical ch an g e s after th e R evolution. D em ocratic P arty (DP) governs th e city, to g eth er w ith th e p a rty re p re se n tin g th e H u n g a ria n m inority (HDUR). B oth p a rtie s are in opposition to th e p a rty , w hich governs th e co u n try . The p a rty ’s co-operation (DP, HDUR) is positively seen a s a pow er, w hich c re a te s th e b a se s of a civic society a n d differs from o th e r cities w here th e p a rtie s have a n a tio n a l c h a ra c te r (e.g. th e p a rty in Cluj-N apoca). New w ork p laces, m ain ly in th e services sec to r w ere c re ate d th a n k s to th e tra n s b o rd e r co -o p eratio n a n d in v e stm e n ts com ing from th e H u n g a ria n s a n d Italians. The political tra n sfo rm a tio n , th e liberal politics of th e city’s a u th o rity a n d th e econom ical developm ent let th e e sta te a rra n g e a n d reg u late, in a larg er scale th e n in o th e r cities. E arlier, before th e y e a r 1996 th e re w as m ostly n a tio n a l a n d city e sta te . However, th e rise of p eo p le’s w ealth led to th e situ a tio n in w hich m o st of th e city a re a s (90%) w ere ta k e n by private ow ners w ho s ta rte d to in v est in m a n y buildings. Two new d istric ts of d e ta c h e d h o u s e s cam e to life w h ich c an be a sign of a different geographical s tru c tu re of th e city w hich is slowly getting th e outlook of a typical lay o u t for th e free m a rk e t econom y. N early all th e service b ra n c h e s w ere p riv atised , from th e ed u ca tio n (three private universities) to th e h e a lth service (19 private surgeries) a n d w hole c h ain sto res. The H u n g a ria n a n d Italian c ap ital sto c k m ad e th e m iddle a n d sm all factories d o m in a n t in th e econom ical s tru c tu re of th e city a n d h en ce th e u n em p lo y m en t ra te d ecrea se d in O radea m ak in g it th e low est in th e co u n try . T here are em ployed 9 7 .5 th o u s a n d people: 2.1% w ork in a g ricu ltu re, 48.5% in th e in d u stry , 15.6% in th e tra d e , 8.9% in tra n s p o rt, 6.1% in m edical care, 6.05% in th e e d u catio n , 2.1% in th e a dm in istra tio n a n d 10.7% in th e re s t of services. C lear c h a n g e s took place in th e p u b lic a n d private tra n s p o rt. A lot of activities w ere m ad e to im prove th e 30 s ta n d a rd of tra m n e ts (124 tram s) a n d b u s n e t (91 b u ses). M any ro a d s w ere ren o v ated a n d th e n u m b e r of reg istered cars, especially from H ungary a n d Italy h a s in creased . Am ong th e m o st developed services th e first place is occupied by ed u ca tio n , c u ltu re a n d to u rism . T here are 46 p rim ary a n d seco n d ary schools in O radea. After th e y e a r 1996 th re e new private h igh schools w ere opened, one of th e m ru n by th e B a p tist c h u rc h . Six th e a tre s (one of th e m of a stro n g H u n g a ria n ch aracter) a n d five c in em as give a very good c u ltu ra l offer. The wide ran g e of acco m m o d atio n - w holly ren o v ated - offers n early one th o u s a n d p la ce s to sleep an d w h a t is m ore th e city p la n s to enlarge th e h o tel b a sis. O rad ea h a s its typical to u ris t a ttra c tiv e n e ss th a n k s to th e location, a rc h ite c tu re , convenient tra n s p o rt a n d lying n e a rb y th e w arm w aters. Baile Felix (Felix Spa) w as a h e a lth re so rt in th e A u stro -H u n g a ria n tim es a n d sin ce th e y e a r 1998 its in fra s tru c tu re h a s b een m odernised . A lot of new , sm all family a n d friendly g u e st h o u s e s w ere b u ilt a n d th e old socialistic ones w ere privatised. The new ow ners im proved th e to u ris t b a se a n d m ade th e to u ris ts offers m ore attractiv e. We can notice m a n y foreign to u ris ts from W estern E u ro p e, especially from G erm any, w ho re s t w ith in th e w arm w ater. D espite th e fact th a t O rad ea belongs to th e cities w ith th e h ig h e st life s ta n d a rd , it still h a s to cope w ith m an y problem s. The m o st im p o rta n t issu e is e n v iro n m en tal pollution, im proving and developing th e tra n s p o rt in fra s tru c tu re a n d th e e d u c a tio n developm ent. However, if th e in d ic a ted ta s k s are to be accom plished, th e city n e e d s to have financial m e an s. T he only alarm in g th in g is th e s itu a tio n in w hich m o st of th e decisio n -m ak in g a re a s - especially in th e a re a of p u b lic service - have a c e n tra l c h a ra c te r. C o n clu sio n s In th e scientific re s e a rc h e s of O rad ea social s tru c tu re it c an be noticed th a t som e cru cial ch an g e s of eth n ic, linguistic a n d religious s tru c tu re s took place in th e city. The ran g e of th e c h a n g e s to g eth er w ith th e before ex istin g p ro c e ss seem s to deepen. F or one, th e p ro c e ss of H u n g a ria n , G erm an a n d Je w ish m in o ritie s’ m igration is obvious. The negative ra te of b irth a n d th e negative b a lan c e of e x tern al m ig ratio n only in a little w ay eq u alise th e in te rn a l m igration, w hich in th is case 31 in c lu d e s m ainly th e R o m an ian s a n d th e R om a p o p u latio n . W hen we ta k e in to th e a c c o u n t th e m u lti-e th n ic city societies we c an find o u t a confirm ation of th e ch an g e s w hich are th e m odification te n d en c ie s of th e declared la n g u ag e a n d religion s tru c tu re . After th e revolution, th e city fu n c tio n s in a tra n s b o rd e r sp h ere a n d therefore it ben efits m u c h . The n ew in v e stm en ts, m ain ly w ith th e e x tern al cap ital sto ck le t th e city developed w id esp read a n d m ak e th e life s ta n d a rd higher. A p ro p e r city policy in th e e u ro re g io n s‘ co-operation allow s O rad ea to tak e on a series of in v e stm e n ts, w hich are also com m on for th e H u n g a ria n side a n d m a k e s th e city’s developm ent b etter. We sh o u ld also a d m it th e existence of a n e d u ca tio n a l im p ro v em en t th a n k s to w hich th e city becam e th e m o st im p o rta n t a n d th e la rg e st s tu d y cen tre in th e n o rth e rn a n d e a s te rn p a rt of th e country. A very cru cial a lte rn a tio n to o k place in th e in d u s try an d service b ra n c h e s. The p ercen tag e of th e w o rk ers em ployed in th e m in in g a n d energetic co m p an ies le ss e n e d a n d th e p ercen tag e of th e w o rk ers em ployed in ed u ca tio n , to u rism an d tra d e h a s in creased . The very co n v en ien t location of th e c o m m u n icatio n w ays, a t th e c ro ssin g of tra n s p o rt ro a d s, m ak e th e city a n im p o rta n t c o m m u n icatio n cen tre. 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