Betelepítés

Betelepítés refers to the organized relocation of people into a new territory, typically by a government or other authority, with the intent of populating, developing, or stabilizing a given area. The term can denote internal resettlement within a country's borders or the immigration of settlers from abroad to a different region or state. It is used in historical and contemporary contexts and may involve incentives such as land grants, housing, tax relief, or infrastructure investment, as well as measures to facilitate integration.

Etymology: The word is formed from be- (into, onto) plus telepítés (settlement, establishment), which itself derives from települni 'to settle' or 'to establish a settlement.' The term contrasts with more general words for migration (költözködés, emigráció) and with legal notions of naturalization or asylum.

Historical usage: In many empires and nation-states, betelepítés referred to state-organized programs to repopulate frontier areas, transform sparsely populated regions, or alter demographic balance. Settlers—peasants, soldiers, or minorities—were often attracted with land, tax incentives, or protected status. In some cases, such relocations occurred under coercive conditions or large-scale population transfers.

Contemporary usage: Today, betelepítés can describe government-led immigrant settlement programs, rural or urban redevelopment projects where populations are moved to new housing or villages, and efforts to encourage skilled migration. It remains a neutral descriptive term for the policy instrument of populating or reconfiguring human settlement patterns.

See also: Migration, Immigration policy, Resettlement, Population transfer.