Hungarian Studies Newsletter, 1975 (3. évfolyam, 6-8. szám)
1975 / 6. szám
ARTICLES (continued from page 16) Garnick, David. “Hungarian Economic Reform." World Politics 25 (April 1973) pp. 414-429. The reform of 1968 clearly represented the introduction of a more efficient system that would provide new possibilities for the economy. Outlined are the key aspects of the reform, pointing out some of the disadvantages of the constraint (politically motivated) which forced the economy to be a seller’s market. The author feels that some of the gains in well-being attributed to the reform antedate it: e.g., Western trade being the result of an earlier and larger pattern. The improvement in the lot of the consumers has been a political, rather than an economic decision. A genuine improvement cited is the improvement of financial information about enterprises. Real reform, Garnick feels, cannot come without the abandonment of the seller’s market, but this would involve the workers’ loss of security and so is unlikely to change at any time soon. EMB Gunda Be'la. “Sex and Semiotics.” Journal of American Folklore 86 (April 1973) pp. 143-151. The author reports on observations of “patterned communications in all modalities” of contact between the two sexes in the Hungarian culture area. He cites signs and symbols in use in various localities (peasant societies generally) such as in Tolna, Kalotaszeg, which make communication possible without lengthy explanations: these signs are factual, concrete and exact. An extensive listing of these signs makes up the remainder of the paper. EMB Kadarkay, Arpad A. “Hungary: an Experiment in Communism.” Western Political Quarterly 26 (June 1973) pp. 280- 301. Post '56 Hungary has been shaped by the interplay of economics and politics, with economics modifying the party line as necessary, contends Kadarkay. These modifications were made possible by strong party unity. The article explores this reciprocal relationship. The party “died” in ’56 and had to be rebuilt along different lines: a greater appeal was made to the intellectuals, and the leadership responded to sociopolitical and economic pressures. Ka'da'r sees the role of the party as serving the people, not leading them, and urges its members to work as if they had to win in free, secret election against other parties. Greater freedom in foreign trade led to a better balance of payments, and with more hard currency available, there are more consumer goods to be had: even a new periodical has emerged to rate consumer goods and advise the public. However labor shortage and remaining price controls still lead to inflationary rates. NEW SOURCE OF FUNDING Just as we were going to press news reached us about the Immigration History Research Center’s project on “White Ethnic" Groups in Twentieth Century America: a Program of Basic Research into Their Historical Origins and Development. Grant-in-aids to scholars using the collections and facilities of the Center are available up to $3,000. Application date is March 1,1975. Research assistantshipsat the Center carry a stipend of $3,726 for half-time work during the academic year. Application date is February 1,1975. For more information write or call Prof. Rudolph J. Vecoli, Director, IHRC, U. Minnesota, 826 Berry Street, St. Paul, MN 55114; telephone 612-373-5581. More on the Center in our next issue. Society, too, is changing: there is greater flexibility and more opportunity for travel. Professionals have to be induced to stay by choice, not force, yet it is hard to do so without appeal to patriotism. The brain drain is a real threat to the reform. Tourism, is vital to the economy, so travel must be allowed both ways with few restrictions. Hungary enjoys greater intellectual freedom than the Soviet Union or most of the other members of the bloc. Social stratification is present, though upward mobility is easy. One of the gravest problems remaining is the unavailability of housing, with the private sector providing most of the new units at prices the lower income classes cannot afford. EMB Roman, Eric. “Munich and Hungary: An Overview of Hungarian Diplomacy during the Sudeten Crisis.” East European Quarterly 8 (1974) 1, pp. 71-97. A letter from Prime Minister Ka'lman Darányi to Adolf Hitler illustrates the policy that guided Hungarian foreign affairs in the interwar years: “The Hungarian nation, highly valuing its independence and always anxious to preserve it, will never resign itself to the unjust dismemberment of its territory." How Hungary had to compromise on both counts in the negotiations at Munich and how the Munich Agreement served neither of these objectives is the subject of this article. Sweeney, James Ross. “Innocent III, Hungary and the Bulgarian Coronation: A Study in Medieval Papal Diplomacy.” Church History 42 (September 1973) pp. 320- 334. This article examines the disputes between Imre of Hungary (1196-1204) and Joannitsa of Bulgaria (1197-1207) in which Pope Innocent became involved as a mediator. Imre attempted unsuccessfully to prevent the coronation of Joannitsa until his territorial claims against Bulgaria were settled. The dispute centered on Serbia, then a Hungarian vassal state, and some lands between Belgrade and Sofia which had formed part of the dowry of Margaret, the king’s sister and Byzantine Empress. Imre imprisoned the Papal Legate, but released him in time - with no clear explanation. No settlement of the dispute was achieved, but the Pope crowned Joannitsa after his release. EMB Száz, Z. Micahel. “The Geographic Dimension of the MBFR: The Hungarian Case.” In MBFR at the Crossroads, edited by Z.M. Szaz. Philadelphia: Alpha Publications, 512 Oak Lane Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19126. 1974. 122 pages. $5.00 paper. Publications of the American Institute on Problems of European Unity, Inc., no. 1. The well documented article deals with one aspect of the MBFR (Mutual Balanced Force Reductions) negotiations of 1973-74, “the restriction of the troop reduction area to Central Europe and concommittant military and political options to both the superpowers and their participating allies at the Vienna conference.” The author describes in detail the differences which emerged between the West and the Soviet Union over the inclusion or exclusion of Hungary in the negotiations. At several points the controversy threatened the continuation of the negotiations. As of January 14,1974, the Hungarian question still seemed to be open, and the success of the negotiations in doubt. Pessimists think that “even a meager agreement remains an indefinite prospect.” Optimists believe that such conferences “produce their own momentum and that the parties involved cannot break off negotiations for fear of popular reactions." A statement by the Representative of Hungary made on October 31, 1973 is included in the appendix. HUNGARIAN STUDIES NEWSLETTER No. 6, 1975 17
