Hungarian Studies Newsletter, 1981 (9. évfolyam, 27-30. szám)

1981 / 30. szám

ARTICLES & PAPERS (Continued)

law are useful in achieving this objective. Socialist countries consider the creation of international legal secu rity essential to the realization of the principles of domestic socialist legality and peaceful coexistence between East and West. Therefore, it is not incidental that the majority of Eastern European socialist countries have enacted specific legislation governing the area of international law in recent years.” The author is assoc, prof, of law at Memphis St. U. □ Hoppal, Mihály, “From Structuralism to Ethnosemiotics,” paper presented in the symposium on the future of structuralism at the Intercongress of the International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences, Amsterdam, April 22-25, 1981.

This is a theoretical treatise on the historical development, impact, and future of semiotics, a relatively recent philosophical theory of signs and symbols, and its relation to general social science theory. The share of scholars of Hungarian background is touched upon, especially the pioneering contributions of Thomas A. Sebeok. Some illustrations are taken from the Hungarian scene in the areas of food, eating habits, and proxemics. An extensive bibliography (109 entries) of both Western and Eastern

DISSERTATIONS*

Simkus, Albert Andrew (U. of Wisconsin, Madison, 1980), Social Change and Social Mobility: The Case of Hungary.

302 pages. Microfilm and zerox no. 8110096.

This thesis discusses the ways in which radical changes in social organization and policy can bring about changes in regimes of international social mobility. In particular, it is concerned with the relationships between state socialist development of the European form and specific forms of mobility. Analysis of historical changes in social mobility in Hungary reveals the degree of change accompanying particular events and policies. Studies of occupational mobility in capitalist countries have suggested that the patterns of association between fathers’ and sons’ occupations have remained relatively constant over the last 20 to 50 years. In contrast, Hungary documents significant historical changes in two forms of occupational inheritance. Measures of intergenerational status inheritance show substantial decreases in inheritance of nonmanual positions and positions in agriculture. Intergenerational mobility during the period 1948-1957 made a small contribution to these changes. However, most of the change in mobility took place through a process of social metabolism, in which “low inheritance” labor replaced older “high inheritance” groups. The historical changes in occupational inheritance coincided with strong measures promoting the educational opportunities of proletarian youth and with the collectivization of agriculture. The changes observed in Hungary suggest that the relative odds of particular occupational opportunities may indeed be altered, but perhaps only in the context of substantial changes in social organization or direct intervention in the mobility process.

'Abstracts are usually based on those published in Dissertation Abstracts International. Microfilm and xerox copies of the original full dissertation may be obtained, when indicated, from Xerox University Microfilm 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106. When ordering, use the number shown.

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sources assists the lay reader to get acquainted with the best writings on the subject. The author is member of the Ethnographic Institute of HAS. □

HUNGAROLÓGIAI ÉRTESÍTŐ 3(1981)1-2. Journal of the Nemzetközi Magyar Filológiai Társaság [International Society of Hungarian Studies] in Budapest. General editor is Miklós Beládi; editor is József Jankovics. (For description of the Society see HSN no.25,p.6-7.)

This 228 page volume presents extensive bibliographies for the year of 1979 in literature, linguistics, and ethnography considered related to Hungarian studies. The coverage of the field is uneven. While researchers will greatly appreciate the extensive coverage of Hungarian and East European sources (in various languages but mainly in Magyar), they will regretfully notice the virtual absence of references to American sources. Among the some 350 sources listed we found Canadian-American Slavic Studies (Pittsburgh), Current Anthropology (Chicago), Journal of American Folklore (Washington), Language Sciences (Bloomington, Ind.), Linguistic Inquiry (Cambridge, Mass.), Names (Potsdam, N.V.), and World Literature Today (Oklahoma). The journals of national scholarly organizations are virtually overlooked. We believe that assistance in this regard could come from American Hungarianists, readers of this newsletter. If interested write to Dr. Be'la'di Miklo's, Budapest, Pf. 34, Hungary 1250. □

Kormondy, Edward J. “Environmental Protection in Hungary and Poland.” Environment 22:10(December 1980)31-37.

Considerable differences can be observed between the Hungarian and Polish attitudes toward environmental concerns. The reasons forthe difference may lie in the historical setting of the two countries as well as in the contemporary academic and science organization. In Hungary a high awareness of environmental problems exists, while in Poland the governmental and popular concerns are of a lesser degree and mostly regionalized. Perhaps, the principal reason for the more modest Polish interest can be found in Poland’s strong investment in industrialization. In Hungary the 1976 Act on the Protection of the Human Environment set the base for governmental action. The supreme authority lies in the hands of the Council of Ministers who acts through the National Council of Environmental Protection and Nature Conservation. A national authority is functioning to implement the council’s policy. Involved in these efforts are governmental annual and five-year plans, research institutes of the HAS, and citizens associations. The Association of Friends of Nature, e.g., has about 100,000 members who learn about the fragility, resilience, and strength of the human environment. In a country where 96% of the water comes from outside its boundaries, mainly from the Danube and Tisza rivers already polluted by the time it reaches Hungary, intensive concern about environmental problems is vital. □

Mayer, Mária. “Some Aspects of the Development of the National Movement Amongst the Ruthenes of Hungary (Sub-Carpathian Ruthenia) 1849-1914,” in Keith Hitchens, ed. Studies in East European Social History, Vol.1. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1977, pages 177-191.

The author, who is an academician specializing in Carpatho-Rusyn developments during the late 19th century, focuses her attention on the nationality issue and the activity of the competing Russophile, Rusynophile, and Magyarone

NO. 30, WINTER 1981-1982, HUNGARIAN STUDIES NEWSLETTER