Capital social et tolerance ethnique: cooperation, confiance et prejuges ethniques en Roumanie

Abstract

Even today, before its effective European integration, Romania still witnesses strong diversity refusal at the general public level. This research paper deals with the Romanian majority representations of two of the most visible ethnic minorities in Romania -Hungarians and Gypsies- and pays attention to significant attitudes of discrimination and intolerance. Moreover, it examines some of the most important factors for ethnic tolerance. The social capital theory sets that participation in secondary organizations is a certain source for civic values, social trust and positive norms of reciprocity, commitment, honesty, tolerance and mutual respect. But in Romania the effects of participation are weaker than expected in this respect. The most important factors for tolerance are ethnic contact and -especially for the Gypsies- the spread of ethnic prejudices. Even education appears less important, a possible solution for the future development of ethnic tolerance is multicultural education, which offers the chance of a contact between still separated ethnic cultures in Romania.