- A Culture Profile Poster -
- Current Events Analysis -
- An Annotated Map -
- A Comparison Human-Environment Interaction -
- Summary Review -
. . .
A Culture Profile Poster
The Slovak Ethnic Group
Slovakian woman doing embroidery, a distinct aspect of traditional clothing; worn at music and other folk festivals. [Photo courtesy of “Countries & Their Cultures” (http://www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/Slovakia.html)]
There are 4.8 million Slovaks in Slovakia, concentrated mainly in the western half of the state, though they can be found in all parts. Their language is Slovakian, classified as Indo-European, or Slavic and their primary religion is Roman-Catholic. Until the era of communist domination, their traditional livelihood had been farming, after that it was partly abandoned in favor of heavy industry to aid in driving the communist regime in Moscow, U.S.S.R.
The Hungarian Ethnic Group
Hungarian woman painting a flower design on fabric for use in constructing traditional dress, similar to the one she wears. Photo courtesy of “Countries & Their Cultures”(http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Hungary.html)
Approximately a half-million Hungarians live primarily in the southern edge of the state of Slovakia, near the border of Hungary. Their primary language is Hungarian, also known as Magyar and is classified as Uralic language, though many do speak Slovakian also, as it is the national language. Hungarians living within Slovakia are primarily Roman Catholic and traditional livelihoods are really no different than that of indigenous Slovakians; farming being predominant among most.
The Rroma Ethnic Group
Commonly known as Gypsy, typically live on the fringes of society. Photo courtesy of University of Liverpool Special Collections & Archives (http://sca.lib.liv.ac.uk/collections/gypsy/)
There are 80,267 officially declared in Slovakia, though 1989 estimates by the of the urban and communal offices of the state administration state as many as 253,943 Roma live in Slovakia, thus constituting 4.8% of the population. Roma political and cultural activists estimate that the number of Roma is even higher, citing a figure of 350,000 to 400,000 in Slovakia. Primarily, they speak Romani, based on Indo-Aryan language of Northern India, more closely associated to Sinhalese and practice a mixture of their own personal brand of religion, coupled with whatever the dominant religion of the area happens to be; in this case, Christianity. Typically, they live on the fringe of society, by choice and necessity, due to continued persecution. Their culture is not a written one, but instead is based heavily in tradition, a strong sense of family value and trade; especially known for their distinct style of music. They have never had a country or any administration to enforce their way of life and society. The basic Rroma tribe is ruled by the family and its lineage.
. . .
Current Events Analysis
Beslan Remembered
Woman grieves at Beslan Childs grave. Photo by Aaron Bird, courtesy of Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beslan_school_hostage_crisis)
Cultural interaction is at the forefront and possibly the driving purpose behind a holiday for 60 children of a Ruzemberok orphanage in the northern Liptov region of Slovakia.
Their two-week holiday to Beslan, Russia was undoubtedly a painful journey for those that remembered their homes, family and lives being destroyed in a violent clash between Chechen Separatists, Islamic Fundamentalists and Russian security forces.
Healing is the primary purpose of this trip, but not the only reason. Having been separated from their birth home for three years, this is an opportunity for them to reacquaint themselves with the culture and people with whom they had known before. This point is echoed in a statement by a Stanislav Hudec, spokesman for the primary organizer of the event, Eco-Vest. “The children have a unique opportunity to get to know a foreign country, its customs and culture.”
September 1, 2004, on the first day of school at Beslan Secondary School Number One, the building was seized by a group of Chechan Seperatists and Islamic Fundamentalists. It was to be a three-day stand-off with Russian security forces that would end in tragedy for these children.
After three days, Russian Special Forces laid siege to the building with flamer-throwers, tanks, heli-copter gun ships and other heavy armor. That day, more than 350 innocent civilians were killed, but what brought fierce international criticism was that nearly 200 of those killed that day were children. Most of them died along-side parents or grandparents who had accompanied them to their first day at school.
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Hope against hope for the Rroma
Rroma mother & child. Photo courtesy of CNN International. (http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/04/14/eu.slovakia.roma/)
The effects of globalization can be said to have a least one positive effect for the Rroma within Slovakia. Europe’s most widespread, populous and disadvantage nation of people have begun to feel hope after more than a thousand years of oppression and discrimination. Nowhere is this felt more profoundly than in Slovakia; specifically in Svinia.
Living in substandard housing, or forced to the edges of the city by discriminatory practices that have been handed down century after century, close scrutiny of humanitarian treatment of minorities by the European Union has forced many countries that have recently joined to pay closer attention to the needs of these people.
Recent welfare reforms continue to fall short unfortunately, as many of them are unskilled and uneducated, due to accumulated years of hostility and discrimination against the nation of Rroma. Their unemployed are estimated at 80%, and their inability to become gainfully employed, not only negates their eligibility for welfare benefits, more often than forces them to crime in order to simply keep their children fed.
Slovakia does recognize that is an extremely difficult situation; that they will not be able to handle alone, primarily because it is a problem that all of Europe is having. In accord with that understanding, Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda’s recently reached out to the EU stating, “I think we do our best, but we need understanding. We need help. And I guess that issue, this question is not only a question for Slovakia but a broader wider problem.”
The Rroma have always been a nation without a home, as many other peoples in Europe. Fortunately for them and all other minority ethnic groups, globalization is increasing awareness and bolstering support of their plight and the centuries of damage inflicted on them, and many groups are taking a stand to correct past wrongs.
Unfortunately, “anti-Gypsyism” is an acceptable form of racism throughout Europe and efforts continue to be undermined by the most popular politicians. As recent as June of 2005, Slovakian Ambassador to the European Union, Mr. Maroš Šefèovi, expressed his personal views ppublicly to the EROI (European Rroma Information Office), describing the people as “exploiters of the Slovakian welfare system”. Subsequently, similar statements were made by ex-prime minister Vladimir Meciar in his demands to the Parliament that welfare cuts should be specific to Rroma mothers to slow down “the reproduction of socially inadaptable and mentally retarded people." He added that he perceives them to be "antisocial, mentally backward, inassimilable and socially unacceptable".
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Diffusion of Hungarian Culture in Slovakia
Shielf of the Kosice self-governing region. Photo courtesy of Let’s Save Old Stories for the Future (http://www.story.box.sk/)
The southeastern border of Slovakia is, both historically and demographically, typically Hungarian in ethnicity. There has long been a bias towards Hungarian culture though; many Slovakians believe that Hungarian culture is for Hungarians only. Many other ethnic groups within the state hold the same beliefs as well.
On October 11, 2007 in the historic town hall of Košice, the organizers of “Month of Hungarian Culture” are hoping to change all of that. With 20 or more specifically Hungarian cultural events, with hundreds of performers, it is being touted as “the biggest invasion of Hungarian culture in one month” and presented as a place that all ethnic groups can feel welcome to come and enjoy good food, music and dance.
Organizers also hope that this will offer an opportunity for Hungarians on both sides of the Slovakia / Hungary border to get to know each other better, exchange ideas and promote more acceptance of former Hungarian influence in the area, as it has not been a part of state of Hungary since the end of World War II.
. . .
Cultural Features Annotated Map
A Human-Environment Interaction Comparison
Environmental Influences on Culture
- The Tokaj region of Slovakia remains one of the best places in the world to grow grapes appropriate for making naturally sweet wine. “History of Tokaj Wine” Tokaj vino, Family Macik Winery <http://www.tokaj-vino.sk/>
- The White Carpathians in Slovakia contain varieties of plums, pears, apricots and especially apples, native to the region that are included in many cultural foods of the southern regions. Beckmann, Andreas. Environment: The Upside of Top-down. 24 Jan. 2000 <http://www.ce-review.org/00/3/beckmann3.html>.
- The Pannonian Plain, in southwestern Slovakia is the state’s “bread basket”, similar to Kansas in the United States, providing some of the best farmland in Europe. "Pannonian Plain." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 5 Oct 2007, 17:36 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 7 Oct 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pannonian_Plain&oldid=162495038>.
- Since the first settlers arrived to the region in the Neolithic period, the Danube river has been a useful transportation route and source of water to the region. "The Slovak Republic: Danube Facts and Figures”. Danube Day. Mar. 2007 <http://icpdr01.danubeday.org/icpdr-files/13378>.
- Precious mineral deposits in Slovakia’s mountains have provided for centuries of wealth and jobs for the peoples of the region. “Mining maps and plans of the Main Chamber - Count Office in Banská Štiavnica”. Memory of the World Register. Apr. 2006 <http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/files/21445/1141310955104_Slovakia_mining.doc/04+Slovakia+mining.doc>.
- Russian dominance of the region, and their drive for industrialization, resulted in poor land use patterns and abandonment of many orchards, threatening the many fruit species in the White Carpathians. Beckmann, Andreas. Environment: The Upside of Top-down. 24 Jan. 2000 <http://www.ce-review.org/00/3/beckmann3.html>
- As of this year, Slovakia met the targeted SO2 (Sulfur Dioxide) emission levels requirement set forth by the EU for 2010; mostly due to the installation of Mochovce Nuclear Power Plant, over the proposed coal-burning plant. Industry & Environment (About Slovakia). Centre for Scientific Tourism in Slovakia. 2000 <http://www.ecosystems.sk/pages/enviro.html>.
- A majority of the sewage treatment plants are overloaded because of insufficient capacity, threatening not only environmental health, but also human health. Slovakia: Environmental Services. GLOBE-Net Market Reports. <http://www.globe-net.ca/market_reports/index.cfm?ID_Report=941>.
- Quick and recent adaptation of new farming technologies are helping to improve, not only the the livestock raised on land, but also the level of soil degradation. Hamnett, R.G. “Country / Pasture Forage Resource Profiles: Slovak Republic” Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Oct.2006 <http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Counprof/slovak/slovakia.htm>.
- Previous heavy industrialization by Russia, within Slovakia, with little or no ecological controls, caused extensive damage to rivers and streams. “Fishery Country Profile: The Slovak Republic” Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Nov.1996 <http://www.fao.org/fi/fcp/en/SVK/profile.htm>.
Overall, it seems that Slovakia has long been aware of and attempted to equitably manage its resources, until falling under the direction of Soviet communism. Those outside cultural influences on the environment of Slovakia have created most of the problems that they face today. Continued guidance by the European Union, assistance from world ecological and environmental organizations, as well as the determination of the Slovakian people and government, will most certainly help them in overcoming these issues. Indeed, it appears that their goal is to find a good balance of their former agrarian society and their recent industrialization, in the hopes of re-stabilizing their resources for continued moderate use for future generations.
. . .
Statistics & Summary Review
Population: 5,447,502 (July 2007 est.) Nearly ¾ of the population is between 15-65 years of age. The growth rate is 0.147% and the Total Fertility Rate is 1.33.
Religions: Roman Catholic 68.9%, Protestant 10.8%, Greek Catholic 4.1%, other or unspecified 3.2%, none 13% (2001 census)
Languages: Slovak (official) 83.9%, Hungarian 10.7%, Roma 1.8%, Ukrainian 1%, other or unspecified 2.6% (2001 census)
Ethnic Groups: Slovak 85.8%, Hungarian 9.7%, Roma 1.7%, Ruthenian/Ukrainian 1%, other and unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)
Since the beginning of organized civilization Slovakia has been and continues to be home to many different nationalities and cultures. Despite seemingly continuous political and economic fluctuations, it seems that every culture has always made an effort to peacefully co-exist in this region. Their having always been, for the most part, another piece of someone else’s geographical puzzle, appears to have aided in keeping many cultural tensions to a minimum throughout the years.
When researching this state, I was quite excited to learn of the Rroma population, also known as Gypsy. I have always been interested in them, understanding them to be a culture that stands apart from most of western civilization in their identity. Unfortunately, though cultural acceptance is the norm in Slovakia, the exception seemed to be towards this nation of people. I was disappointed to learn that they continue to be the subject of what was termed “acceptable racism”, for no other reason than they are Gypsy and that their culture stands has always been, and continues to stand, a stark contrast to the belief systems and culture of nearly every culture with which they attempt to integrate. It is a sad state of affairs when prominent political leaders can publicly denounce another culture, calling them “antisocial, mentally backward, inassimilable and socially unacceptable.” After reading and understanding much of their life and times, I find statements such as these to be antiquated, irrational, judgmental, without merit and no better than references made to many people of African descent. Things do seem to be changing in their favor though, with the onset of globalization, and with that a better understanding of cultural differences by the common man, regardless of the rantings of a favored politician.
Equally as interesting and educating in researching Slovakia, was the mapping it. It was a bit difficult at first, to find something more about the country than its capital, Bratislava, but persistence paid off. I had no idea that Tokaj wine was such a royal treat across the continent since the time of the Roman Empire. Neither had I encountered such fantastic evidence of organized civilization in Europe as far back as Neolithic times, than when I began to study this state. It seems as if this time in human history is equally, if not more, relevant than any of those civilizations that emerged from the Mediterranean area, and has led me to wonder why this area of the world is so often overlooked in studies on Western Civilization. The Pannonian Plain was fascinating to read about and its agricultural impact on all of Europe; seemingly more so than the Nile valley is purported to be. It has led me to believe that there should be more thought put towards portraying this region of the world, in relation to its agricultural antiquity, than has previously done in the past.
The dominance of the region by communist Russia is probably most of the reason why this is rarely discussed. I have observed in various other situations that; it has never been proper to demonstrate how anything related to communism could have ever had any sort of a positive impact on western civilization. I look forward to that changing, with Slovakia now a part of the European Union, and being relied upon once again for its wealth of resources. Unfortunately, it will take some time to recover from much of the damage that was inflicted by the former ruling Soviets. The wanton destruction and rape of the land and resources, through Industrialization have definitely taken their toll, but the land is slowly recovering. In fact, Slovakia has recognized that in order to recover they will need to be very proactive in addressing issues such as air and water pollution if it is to ever fully recover and return to former environmentally-balanced position among the rest of the European states.
Overall, I look forward to visiting Slovakia someday. This research as peaked my interest even more than the random visit with friends from the state. There were so many things of interest, that I felt I could have written a book about it.
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