Bálványos Free Summer University and Student Camp

The Bálványos Free Summer University and Student Camp (more commonly known as Tusványos) is a large-scale intellectual workshop of the Carpathian Basin held annually in Băile Tușnad, Romania (Hungarian: Tusnádfürdő) which originally intended to promote cross-border cooperation, Romanian-Hungarian dialogue and cultural Hungarian-Hungarian political exchange.^[1] Besides the political and public themes, there is also the opportunity to relax and have fun, participate in sporting and cultural events or visit concerts of Hungarian and Transylvanian Hungarian ensembles.^[2]

History

The first edition was held in 1990 at Balvanyos, with the intention to promote dialogue between Romanians, Hungarians from Romania, and Hungarians from Hungary. The early camps were attended by several high-ranking politicians both from Romania (f.i. Emil Constantinescu, Traian Băsescu, Adrian Severin) and Hungary, and it was well received by both communities.^[3][4]

In 1997, the event was moved from Balvanyos to Tușnad (hence the Hungarian informal name Tusványos). Around 2000, it started turning from a political workshop into a student summer camp; some critics consider this had a negative effect on the event.^[4] Around 2010 a new transformation took place: the Orbán-régime from Hungary became heavily involved, using the summer university to exhibit the politics of Fidesz. The Romanian media became critical and the Romanian participation diminished, many politicians refusing invitations for fear of being stigmatised.^[5] What once was a dialogue has rather turned into a monologue of the Hungarian side, and its disapproval in the Romanian media.^[3]

References