Abstract

Whether we like it or not, we have to admit that the second half of the 19^th century in Romanian culture and society is characterized by frequent anti-Semite attitudes. Mihai Eminescu's activity as journalist at “Curierul de Iaşi” makes no exception. From his first article in this newspaper, Eminescu proves to be a competent journalist, fighting for the only “positive social class”, peasantry. His strong belief was that all the others benefit from the work of the peasants. That is why he frequently attacks politicians, lawyers, merchants, public officers, journalists or teachers, blaming them for wasting peasants' hard work. As commerce and industry were mainly in the hands of foreigners (especially Jews and Germans) and politics was dominated by Greeks and Bulgarians, Eminescu accuses them for the disaster inRomania. The aim of my paper is to establish if Eminescu’s articles are dominated by nationalism or anti-Semitism and xenophoby and to point out the elements that shape his way of understanding the national identity of his people.