Would you say these interfaces, digital, face to face, institutional, shape your sense of being politically active? Do they make participation feel easier, riskier, more personal, more distant?
They definitely facilitated my participation.
It is a trade off, of course. Meeting in person is always easier and more intimate, more liberating. You need to feel the presence of people who are important for you, your fellow fighters.
But if I have to choose between not being part of it at all and connecting online, I choose online. For example, we went on a skiing holiday with my family. I do not really enjoy skiing, so I stayed at home and joined a meeting while I was in Austria. Others were scattered around Romania. My participation was absolutely fine; I could contribute to discussions and be part of it.
So I think these technical solutions benefit our civic and political activism.
Now we are shifting towards political subjectivity, emotions, and meaning.
Has participating in political action affected your understanding of yourself? If so, how?
It made me understand myself as even busier than before. Like everyone else who needs to integrate work and family, especially as a mother, I am in a constant struggle with my lack of time. Taking up another role does not make it easier.
Half jokingly, it defines me as someone who has taken on another task I was not able to say no to. That brings a feeling of guilt towards my family and children. Every second Thursday evening I am in the kitchen or in my room, online, participating in these events.
We had our first in person weekend meeting with the movement in Romania, and I brought my family. My husband and two kids joined me. I was the only one there with family; everyone else left theirs at home. It was still the school term, so my husband sat with the kids doing homework while I was in the meetings. This adds a layer of guilt: why am I not able to say no? Why do I have to be the one participating?
I think that is the most significant shift in how I interpret my political subjectivity.
Can you describe a moment when your political engagement felt especially meaningful, or especially frustrating?
It became frustrating during the summer. I was not working that much because we were together as a family, but my mind kept being busy.
In Romania there were elections in May, and a new president was elected. By the time the campaign was over, the government came up with a very harsh austerity package. I felt that as a left wing political community, we should do something. Of course not to change the package, that was unrealistic, but at least to raise issues, to campaign on social media, to support trade unions.
Most of my political community, my friends, were on vacation and very passive. I was disappointed that if I do not do something, it seems I do not really have a community. I have doubts about their commitment. There are a few people who are very active and busy, but the majority are not willing to sacrifice as much time as I have already.
What kinds of relationships or communities have grown out of your political involvement?
Not really significant ones. I did not become close friends with these people. That may also be because I am not there physically.
How have your priorities or sense of political responsibility shifted over time? Are there things you care more about now, or ways you approach action differently?
My agenda, my definition of what priorities should be in society, and in Romanian society, has not really shifted. On the contrary, I joined this movement because I have my agenda and I know what should be done.
As for how one should start working on it or what methods to apply, I am still learning how to make programs and come up with projects.
Looking ahead, and we are approaching the end, do you see yourself continuing with non voting forms of political engagement in the future?
Unless I am put in jail, yes. Things do not seem closer to the solutions I think would be better. So I do not think I will be able to say no to such initiatives.
Is there anything we have not covered that feels important to understanding your political life? Any stories you thought about sharing but have not?
No, not really.
Bonus question: who else do you think we should talk to, who could offer valuable perspectives on political engagement? We are still snowballing and mapping the field.
Which country?
We have Hungary, Romania, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, Tunisia… but I was thinking particularly of Hungary or Romania. Maybe you know someone?
I think I know the people who are part of the project; they are Romanian, ethnic Romanians. That means they might not know the people I work with in the movement. I could recommend some people from my movement, which is called {says the name of the movement in Hungarian}. Transylvania is the western part of Romania, with a larger Hungarian minority.
I think I am following it on Instagram. It is not {venue name}, but another name…
{venue name} is the name of the pub where we have our meetings. The movement is called {says the name of the movement in Hungarian}. I can put you in contact with my colleagues and friends there, if that is helpful.