Paper short abstract:

The paper reflects the changes of belonging to Moldova as homeland depending on the changes of its borders through time. Moldova’s borders have not been stable, which affects the perception of homeland by people who feel their belonging to the state and includes it in a broader context (USSR, EU).

Paper long abstract:

Temporality can be defined through official and/or cultural borders - that is what the analysis of content of four Moldovan media agencies (two leading central state news agencies pan.md and enews.md and two leading Gagauz news agencies gagauzlar.md and gagauzinfo.md) for the last five years shows.

As a "nation-in-the-making" (Berg, Meuers) or a "delayed nation" (King) Moldova is creating its new boundaries, new symbolic geography today. This process is connected to the idea of necessity of patriotism promotion by shaping and maintaining civic identity based on the borders of a new independent Moldova which represent contemporaneity.

At the same time cultural heritage forms the feeling of belonging to two broader spaces: East and West. East is connected to the former USSR. Being a part of it Moldova is connected to common soviet history (for example, with the victory in World War II), Russian language and culture (so called "Russian world"), economic welfare of the country. In this case Moldova is "located" in the past through the belonging to the Eastern region.

West is mostly represented by the EU. Meanwhile Moldova has a very strong idea of European integration which is still a project of being included in the Western region that can symbolize the future. In this case Moldova is associated with the development of Western values and progress.

Choosing temporality and broader space Moldova is also choosing the way its citizens will define home.