‘Creolizing the modern’ through endless connections to Transylvania

Abstract

This book review primarily focuses on the application of inter-imperiality and creolizing in Creolizing the Modern: Transylvania Across Empires (2022), which is co-authored by Anca Parvulescu and Manuela Boatcā. In doing so, it sheds light on the Ottoman connections in Transylvania. It begins by establishing links to the formation of the Principality of Transylvania and the migration of Romanians to the region during Ottoman rule. In terms of micro-level interaction and cultural production, the review suggests that the Ottoman Turkish ‘Transylvanian’ carpet is concrete evidence of creolisation in Transylvania. At the macro level of inter-imperial entanglements and negotiations, it highlights the privileged migration of Hungarians to Australia for ‘white’ sugar production under the White Australia policy. Finally, this review highlights the importance of revealing the hidden history of the enslavement of Roma. It concludes by drawing an analogy between the racial hierarchy of Roma and Jews in Transylvania.