The Szeklers and the Secuization of Romanians

The content of this paper is a review of G. Popa Lisseanu’s work The Szeklers and the Secuization of Romanians by G. Popa Lisseanu. The importance of this subject matter can hardly be overstated, since it deals with an issue that is less researched, although it affects the lives and existence of many present-day citizens of Romania and the very existence of some Romanian communities, namely the Secuization of Romanians. This is a sensitive issue closely linked to two other problems: the persistence of the Dacian-Romanian element in Dacia (especially in what is known as Transylvania and its eastern part, which constitutes a hindrance for the Hungarian politicians, men of culture, and so on, who dream about the utter assimilation and denationalization of the Romanian population) and the question of the origin of the Szeklers. The topic discussed is vital for Romania because of the Secuization of the Romanians, or more precisely, their Hungarianization since this process is still ongoing today employing church and school as tools. G. Popa gives a warning signal regarding this predicament of some parts of the Romanian population that, although it constitutes the majority in Romania, faces some serious troubles regarding its existence in some regions of the country. The author tries to raise the necessary awareness about this situation, hoping that the authorities in charge will take the required measures as soon as possible. The present review is useful because it presents, in a synthetic manner, a series of important information that clarifies a problem that is still having an impact and raises the issue of the denationalization of Romanians, as well as of the destabilization of the Romanian state.