러시아ㆍ유라시아

The purpose of this study is to analyze the process of nation/state identity building and the features of Moldovan national movement that caused a domestic instability including a ‘frozen conflict’ between Moldova and Transdniestria.
Interactions among pan-Romanian, Moldovan, Basarabian, Transdniestrian, Eurasian, and even European identity groups have constituted a basis of ethnic and regional conflicts in Moldova. In the process of interactions, political elites mobilized and redefined identities, bluring the category of a national/state identity. In particular, efforts to recategorize national identity increased between-group discrimination, hampering the legitimacy and stability of between-group relations. Neo-Moldovanism initiated by the Moldovan government triggered recategorization of Moldovan identity in Transdniestria, although labeled as a ‘Moldovanism without Moldovan people’.
Moldova case suggests more attention needs to be paid to the interaction of sub-identities in the process of redefining the category of a national/state identity. It also implies that the levels of discrimination between groups and legitimization of such discrimination constitute a source of new conflicts.