Although the territory of Transcarpathia, the westernmost county of Ukraine, is located relatively far from the focal points of the combat operations of the Russia-Ukraine war, the everyday lives of the region’s inhabitants have undergone profound transformations since February 2022. While several hundred thousand internally displaced persons arrived and settled in the oblast, a substantial segment of the Hungarian population has responded to the introduction of martial law and the ensuing economic hardships by emigrating. However, a considerable number of Transcarpathian Hungarians have chosen to remain in their homeland despite the challenges of wartime conditions. The present study focuses on the situation of the latter community by: (1) outlining the most important socio-demographic changes taking place in the region; (2) examining the coping strategies of the Transcarpathian Hungarian community under wartime circumstances, the underlying factors shaping migration decisions, and the main motivations for remaining in their homeland; and (3) analyzing the effects of the influx of internally displaced persons on local society and the evolution of interethnic relations. Based on the findings of our empirical research, it can be concluded that the key to remaining in one’s homeland lies in the continuous adaptation and reconfiguration of family coping strategies in response to rapidly changing circumstances. It can also be observed that, while emigration has been the primary factor reducing the number of Transcarpathian Hungarians over the past decades, since 2022 both the scale and nature of migration have shifted considerably, posing new social challenges for the community that has remained at home.

The study presents the main milestones in the formation of Finnish national and state identity, the process of building the Finnish nation state, based on the regional archetypes of historian Jenő Szűcs and researcher Antonsich. The analysis of the literature presents four main identity narratives of Finland. These narratives do not follow each other chronologically, but are time-to-time reinforced at different historical periods and turning points. These narratives include: „Finland has always been part of the Western world,” „Neither East nor West,” „Finland as a bridge between East and West,” „Finland as a northern country.” During the study the influence of Eastern and Western European historical developments on Finland’s historical self-identification, described by Szűcs, is highlighted, which includes both Eastern, Byzantine (Russian Empire) and Western (Swedish Empire) elements and symbols. In various approaches, we view identity conveyed by the state as a construct that was created under the influence of the ruling elites of the time, but for the purpose of forming and strengthening national identity. These elites mainly used folk motifs and social identities that have strengthened the sense of belonging to the nation among the predominantly agrarian population of Finland. After all, the national identity expressed by citizens and the identity narrative conveyed by the state can influencing each other resulting in a stronger sense of identity and identification. In the case of Finland, the most significant events influencing the formation of national identity include the wave of Russification that began at the end of the 19th century and the policy of Finnish neutrality that developed during the Cold War. The former led directly to the creation of the Finnish nation state, while the latter represented a kind of forced return to Eastern identity, reinforcing the narrative of Finland as a bridge between East and West, which is also often emphasized in the case of Hungary. Today, Finland’s identification with the West is clearly pronounced, but nationalist, populist ruling parties, primarily the Finns Party, are promoting narratives that once again bring the „neither West nor East” approach to the fore. In addition, the national populists emphasize Finland’s marginality and separateness, which is manifested in the emphasis on efforts to break away from the European Union.

Sport plays a crucial role in the lives of juveniles serving their sentences in correctional institutions, and in addition to its many direct positive effects, it is also associated with successful reintegration after release. Sport programmes can help young people to develop, but the situation is more nuanced because they can also create specific, challenging situations. It is also important to address the pedagogical, psychoeducational and corrective approaches in this field, because these different approaches bring with them a different focus. In order to gain a thorough understanding of the topic, the academic literature on the theoretical background to the study of the participation of juveniles serving their sentences in correctional facilities in sports programmes (focusing primarily on international studies) was explored, mainly looking at the psychological, educational and criminological dimensions of the topic. The main value of the study, besides the literature on the subject, is to show the relationship between the participation of young offenders in sport programmes and its direct and long-term indirect effects. Sport programmes provide an opportunity to support the socialisation of the young people concerned, in addition to developing their skills and abilities. However, participation in sport does not necessarily bring long-term, positive results, so it is essential to be aware of the planning process, and to focus not only on the results of the programme, but also on the process of implementation. Investigating the participation of juvenile offenders in sport programmes is a key issue and it is in the common interest of all to address them, as it can contribute to the juvenile’s desistance and desistance from delinquent behaviour by adulthood.

This article examines the paternal identity of homeless men and the ways in which their relationships with their children are manifested in their life trajectories, thereby extending previous analyses on homeless mothers. Although the literature on homelessness predominantly portrays men, their fatherhood and parental roles remain largely underexplored. Drawing on qualitative life-history interviews with fifty homeless fathers, the study investigates key dimensions including childhood experiences, demographic and educational background, employment history, health status, exposure to and perpetration of violence, and processes of self-identification. The findings are systematically compared with earlier research on homeless mothers to illuminate gendered similarities and divergences in the formation and significance of parental identity. By situating fatherhood within the broader context of homelessness, this study advances a more nuanced understanding of parental roles among homeless populations and offers empirically grounded insights to inform social work practice and the development of targeted support interventions for homeless parents.

Szarvák Tibor (2022): Adalékok a társadalmi felzárkózás szociológiájának értelmezéséhez. Debreceni Egyetemi Kiadó, Debrecen, 114 oldal

Biczó Gábor – Szabó Henriett (szerk.) (2020): A magyarországi roma szakkollégiumok tagságának országos vizsgálata.
Humán Regiszter 2020, Roma Szakkollégiumok Egyesület, Debrecen, 107 oldal