Hungary: the Politics of Transition: The Politics of Transition (Postcommunist States & Nations)

G?bor B?tonyi analyzes Hungary's changing role and geopolitical position in Central Europe in the light of long-term historical developments. The book contains chapters on the country's economics, politics, society and the transition from Communist state to democracy. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 2 Copyright......Page 3 Contents......Page 4 Political Transition In Hungary: An Overview......Page 6 NOTES......Page 17 Part I The Political Transition in Context......Page 18 Forced Democracies in East-Central Europe......Page 20 The Internal Paradoxes of Democratic Transition......Page 28 NOTES......Page 37 Party Formation and Constitutional Change in Hungary......Page 40 The Decay of Communist Rule: The Beginning......Page 42 Movements into Parties: The Formation of Political Opposition......Page 45 Political Disentanglement and Constitution-Making......Page 49 Political Mobilization and Emerging Pluralism......Page 56 Conclusion......Page 58 NOTES......Page 59 Ownership Relations in the Kádár Period......Page 62 Political and Social Conflicts Around the Changes in Ownership Relations in the Period of Regime Change......Page 64 Political Debates on Ownership Policies in the Period of the Regime Change......Page 68 The Struggle Over Ownership After the Regime Change......Page 71 The Workers’ Councils and the Debate Over Property Change......Page 74 Postscript: May 1994......Page 78 Summary and Conclusions......Page 79 NOTES......Page 81 Part II Political Institutions and Processes......Page 84 Obstacles to the Development of Democratic Politics......Page 86 Parties, Values and Political Behaviour......Page 87 Party Elites and Members......Page 89 The Hungarian Democratic Forum (HDF)......Page 91 The Christian Democratic People’s Party (CDPP)......Page 92 The Hungarian Socialist Party (HSP)......Page 93 The Independent Smallholders’ Party (ISHP)......Page 94 The Alliance of Free Democrats (AFD)......Page 96 The Alliance of Young Democrats (AYD)......Page 98 Splits and Breakaways......Page 100 Old Parties—New Parties......Page 101 Prospects for the Future......Page 103 NOTES......Page 104 Leading Democracy: The Emergence of Party Leaders and Their Roles in the Hungarian Parties......Page 106 From Collective to Shared Leadership......Page 108 Initiating a Contest......Page 114 Producing Candidates......Page 115 Choosing Among Candidates......Page 116 Informal Practice......Page 118 Conclusion......Page 121 NOTES......Page 123 Parties and Party Factions in the Hungarian Parliament......Page 124 The Political Orientation of the Party Factions......Page 125 Ideological Identity of the Parliamentary Factions......Page 129 The Internal Organization of the Factions in Parliament......Page 130 The Distance between Factions......Page 131 Changes in the Distribution of Seats between Factions......Page 134 In Place of a Conclusion......Page 138 NOTES......Page 139 The Concept of Representation......Page 142 Representative Roles in the Hungarian Parliament before 1990......Page 143 The New Hungarian Parliament......Page 145 Representative Roles in the New Hungarian Parliament......Page 147 Focus of Representation......Page 148 Style of Representation......Page 152 Conclusion......Page 154 NOTES......Page 155 Developments in Civil Society before 1989......Page 158 The Political Transition and Its Impact on Civil Society......Page 166 The Representation of Economic Interests......Page 169 I. The Trade Unions......Page 170 II. The Employers’ Groups......Page 174 Chambers, Associations or Both?......Page 177 Civil Associations......Page 178 Conclusion......Page 180 NOTES......Page 183 The Rise and Fall of the Hungarian Greens......Page 186 Environmental Pressure Groups in the pre-1989 Period......Page 187 Environmentalism as a Political Umbrella......Page 190 The Economic Crisis and the Green Movement......Page 194 Conclusion......Page 195 NOTES......Page 196 Index......Page 198 Since The Collapse Of Communist Party Rule In Central And Eastern Europe, There Have Been Attempts In Most Countries Of The Region To Develop More Market-orientated Economies And More Democratic Multi-party Political Structures. The Precise Forms Of And Degrees Of Success Of These Changes Have Varied Widely, And All The Successor Regimes Have Faced Serious Problems, But On Most Counts Hungary Has Emerged As One Of The Most Stable And Successful Transformations So Far. Building On Its Distinctive Experience Under Communist Rule, With A Gradual Limitation Of The Degree Of State Management Of The Economy Since The 1970s, And Limited Moves Towards Greater Political Pluralism In The Late 1980s, Hungary Has Achieved A Peaceful And Orderly Political Transition Since 1990.^ Although Its Political Institutions Have Come Under Some Strain, And Constitutional Issues Are The Subject Of Debate Between The Parties, Hungary Has Successfully Established Multi-party Elections And A Parliamentary System, A Relatively Clearly Defined Division Of Responsibilities Between Parliament, President And Constitutional Court, And Significant Freedom Of Expression In The Media.--book Jacket. The Aim Of This Book Is To Review Various Aspects Of The Process Of Democratic Transition In Hungary Over The Period Of Its First Post-communist, Freely Elected Parliament Between 1990 And 1994. In The Various Contributions To This Book An Attempt Is Made To Put Them Into The Context Of Longer-term Trends In Hungarian Politics. Hungary Offers Both An Example Of The Problems Of Political Change Common To Much Of Eastern Europe, And A Specific Example Of What Has So Far Been A Relatively Successful Transformation.^ The Articles In This Collection Are The Result Of Common Discussions And In Some Cases Collaborative Work Between Colleagues In Britain And Hungary, And In Particular At The Department Of Government, University Of Strathclyde, And At The Department Of Political Sciences, Budapest University Of Economic Sciences.--book Jacket. Political Transition In Hungary : An Overview / Terry Cox And Andy Furlong -- The Paradoxes Of Transition : The External And Internal Overload Of The Transition Process / Attila Ágh -- Party Formation And Constitutional Change In Hungary / András Bozóki -- Political And Social Conflicts Arising From The Transformation Of Property Relations In Hungary / Erzsébet Szalai -- Obstacles To The Development Of Democratic Politics / Bill Lomax -- Leading Democracy : The Emergence Of Party Leaders And Their Roles In The Hungarian Parties / Malcolm Punnett And Gabriella Ilonszki -- Parties And Party Factions In The Hungarian Parliament / László Szarvas -- Representational Roles In The Hungarian Parliament / Gabriella Ilonszki And David Judge -- Civil Society And Interest Representation In Hungarian Political Development / Terry Cox And László Vass -- The Rise And Fall Of The Hungarian Greens / Éva Hajba. Edited By Terry Cox And Andy Furlong. This Group Of Studies First Appeared In A Special Issue ... Of The Journal Of Communist Studies And Transition Politics, Vol. 10, No. 3--t.p. Verso. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "The aim of this book is to review various aspects of the process of democratic transition in Hungary over the period of its first post-communist, freely elected parliament between 1990 and 1994. In the various contributions to this book an attempt is made to put them into the context of longer-term trends in Hungarian politics. Hungary offers both an example of the problems of political change common to much of eastern Europe, and a specific example of what has so far been a relatively successful transformation. The articles in this collection are the result of common discussions and in some cases collaborative work between colleagues in Britain and Hungary, and in particular at the Department of Government, University of Strathclyde, and at the Department of Political Sciences, Budapest University of Economic Sciences."--Résumé de l'éditeur Gábor Bátonyi analyzes Hungary's changing role and geopolitical position in Central Europe in the light of long-term historical developments. The book contains chapters on the country's economics, politics, society and the transition from Communist state to democracy