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
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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
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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.
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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. T h a t is w ay
O rad ea a p p e a rs to be a k in d of a gate for id e as, h u m a n a n d
good diffusion for th e regions like M aram u res, C risa n a a n d
also for T ran silv an ia, se p a ra te d in th e S o u th a n d E a s t by th e
C a rp a th ia n M ountains.
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