The Revolutionary Tradition in Hungary and the Lessons of the 1956 Struggle for Independence

Deák, István (2006) The Revolutionary Tradition in Hungary and the Lessons of the 1956 Struggle for Independence. Hungarian Studies, 20 (1). pp. 3-9. ISSN 0236-6568

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Abstract

This presentation will discuss why Hungary has experienced a rather inordinate number of both bloodless and violent revolutions, encompassing urban uprisings as those of 1918 and 1919, and national struggles for independence in 1703-1711, 1848-1849, and 1956. The explanation may lie in the fact that the country has had a long tradition of absolute sovereignty under the leadership of a powerful nobility; yet, because it lies on the crossroads of great migrations and invasions, it was often subjugated by great powers. Remarkably, in each case the national cause was combined with a strong movement for social justice.

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