Abstract
ABSTRACT The Balassi Institute is Hungary’s cultural diplomacy organisation. The Institute’s 10-month ‘Balassi program’ invites Hungarians from the diaspora to participate in a culturally immersive and educational experience in Hungary. This paper draws on interviews with 17 Hungarian-Australians who attended the programme between 2001 and 2018. Bourdieu’s Habitus, capital and ‘field of possibles’ are used to analyse their experiences of belonging during their time in Hungary, particularly everyday engagements where they partied, danced, and formed friendships in nightclubs, folk bars, and community groups. The paper highlights that while the Balassi programme’s curriculum aims to habituate national consciousness, the defining elements of belonging were agency-driven. By manoeuvring their capital and prioritising everyday social engagements, participants constructed ‘relationships with the nation’, while maintaining a minimum commitment to the programme. Thus, when exploring the aims of State-led diaspora tourism programmes, participant choices outside these programmes must be considered a prominent force in shaping belonging.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: European Journal of Cultural and Political Sociology
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
