The European Center for Ethnic Studies of the Romanian Academy co-organized, together with the Civic Forum of Romanians from Covasna, Harghita and Mureș, and the Romanian Cultural Institute, the 23rd edition of the “Izvoru Mureșului” Summer University, between August 14 and 16, in the city of Covasna. CESPE researchers, together with the director of the Center, participated with papers in the discussion panels.

On August 14, Dr. Emanuil Ineoan and Dr. Alin Bulumac spoke at the panel “Where are the Romanians from the Balkans found in the policies of the Romanian state? Diaspora, a fundamental element of Romania’s development”.

On the second day of the University, Dr. George Mocanu highlighted the main problems of Romanians in Ukraine during the debate “Romanians from Ukraine in the Bucharest-Kiev equation”.

Also on the second day, the director of the Center, Professor Radu Baltasiu, Ph.D. Florentina Teacă, PhD Narcis Rupe and PhD Samira Cîrlig raised several issues during the discussion “Identity and continuity within the Carpathian Arc. Romanians from Covasna, Harghita and Mureș counties”. The director presented some of the results of the study undertaken by CESPE on interethnic relations in Mureș county this year. The other researchers spoke about the cultural situation of Romanians from Covasna county and that of the pastoralism practiced in the area by ethnic Romanians, pastoralism that faces countless historical challenges.

At the last panel on August 15 – “Romanian Catholics from Moldova under the assault of assimilation policies. The geopolitics of national identity” – Dr. Corina Pantelimon and Dr. Mihail Ungheanu took the floor. Ms. Pantelimon raised the issue of national identity in the postmodern era, and Dr. Ungheanu that of transhumanism.