‘Breaking’ social identities through diverse networking: the case of Moldovans in Romania

Abstract:

This article analyses the social identity of Moldovans in Romania and the impact of personal relational web on identity deconstruction. It designs a model that allows to explore the character of social identity of Moldovans in Romania and to observe if a specific type of personal relational web influences identity deconstruction. The analysis uses primary data (questionnaires and interviews). Results show that Moldovans do have a different social identity from Romanians and that identity can be influenced by a diverse personal relational web. Moldovans have different perception about themselves at the both, fundamental and additional group beliefs levels. At the level of fundamental group beliefs, Moldovan social identity can be “weakened” if a person will have a relational web which includes Moldovans and Romanians alike, and if he has no preference with whom to interact or whom to trust.