Hungarian Studies Newsletter, 1983 (11. évfolyam, 35-38. szám)
1983 / 37. szám
ARTICLES & PAPERS (Continued) No. 147. S. Gyimesi in Incomes, Public Constructions and Investments in the Hungarian Towns in the 18th Century (17 pages, $1.80 paper) discusses two types of cities which existed in the 18th century: free royal (chartered) cities and market towns. Only the cities enjoyed autonomy and the right to send representatives to the Diet. At the end of the century there were 42 such cities in Hungary, not considering those in Transylvania and Croatia. The study describes the general conditions of those times, especially in terms of demographic and economic variables, and provides a classification system to differentiate between the various types. □ No. 151. A Urban’s Attempts at Reform and the Lessons of History (30 pages, $3.00 paper) is concerned with constitutional models and the beginnings of political journalism in feudal Hungary during the years of 1841 and 1842. It examines thematically the controversy between the revolutionaries and reformers as expressed on the pages of the Pesti Hirlap and in a flood of pamphlets, with the objective to clarify the position of Hungarian reformers in regard to revolutions and the chances of adapting their methods to the Hungarian scene. More than six pages are devoted to a discussion of the American model. □ No. 162. J. Galántai, in Austria-Hungary and the War; the October 1913 Crisis - Prelude to July 1914 (28 pages, $2.80 paper) directs attention to important primary sources which became available in recent years in regard to the antecendents of the 1914 crisis in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. Dominant among the papers are Stephen Tisza’s and Stephen Burian’s previously unknown diaries and papers which enable historians to reevaluate long-held views on episodes preceding World War I, especially on events which occurred during October 1913. Coming as it did on the heels of the Balkan wars, the crisis worsened relations between Serbia and the Monarchy, paving the way to a violent solution. Tisza opposed war but realized that since the Monarchy could not expect the powers of the London Conference to do more than pass resolutions, it had to stand prepared to act alone. □ No. 176. S. Orbán 's Social Transformation of the Hungarian Peasantry after the Liberation (23 pages, $2.20 paper) is a rather poorly translated essay. It asserts that the changeover to the socialist socioeconomic system has destroyed the characteristic features of the peasantry and its standing in the Hungarian social structure. The author discusses the relationship to the agriculturalist to land, of the cooperative property to state ownership, and various other consequences of socialization of agriculture. He takes issue with views attaching exaggerated significance to the unification of cooperative and state properties in the course of transformation, and quotes the Party saying that coops and state property are “socialist properties of identical character.” □ No. 182. F. Szakály et al. Hungary and Eastern Europe (198 pages, $17.00 paper). This is a comprehensive account of the accomplishments of Hungarian historiography during the past twenty years, with emphasis on Hungary’s historical development in an East-Central European context. The chronological account is divided to conform to historical periods: Up to 1526 (F. Szaka'ly); 1526-1711 (K. Peter); 1711-1849 (A. Miskloczy); 1849-1918 (Z. Szász); 1918-1945 (I. Romsics); and 1945 to date (Gy. Gyarmati). The essays, enhanced by generous footnotes offer an insight into various aspects of contemporary Hungarian historical research. □ Vassady, Bela, Jr. “The ‘Homeland Cause’ as Stimulant to Ethnic Unity: The Hungarian-American Response to Karolyi’s 1914 American Tour,” Journal of American Ethnic History 2:1 (Fall 1982) 40-64. Disunity is not an inevitable product of migration or of the process of ethnicization, says the author. He tries to prove his hypothesis by analyzing the unifying effect of Mihály Karolyi’s visit to the U.S. in 1914. In July, at the second visit of that year, an “organized united mass movement” awaited him in response to an appeal from Hungary for assistance. Karolyi found the Magyars demanding local control best expressed by the numerous mutual aid societies which had a more-less democratic government. The decision to support Ka'rolyi came from the Hungarian Social Democratic Party and the call took precedence over traditional rivalries and goals. After Ka'rolyi’s departure ethnic cleavages reasserted themselves, “and the unprecedented phenomenon of Hungarian-American solidarity dissolved as quickly as it had arisen. Yet, the very fact that unity had been achieved at all, and that it had been the product of a homeland cause stimulated by homeland politicians in cooperation with the immigrant community, remains a significant lesson for students of immigration history who have generally assumed that the intensification of ethnic consciousness, regardless of its source, led to an increased immigrant factionalism instead of immigrant solidarity.“The author is assoc, prof, of history at Elizabethtown College. □ RESEARCH IN PROGRESS Mark Wyman, an assoc, prof, of history at the Dept, of History, Illinois State U., Schroeder #334, Normal, IL 61761, is researching the Displaced Persons (DPs) of Europe during the years 1945 and 1952. As part of this project he has been seeking out ex-DPs all over the country, interviewing them, and gathering data from more traditional sources. He would be happy to hear from anyone who has information on the DP years, especially on DP camp activities, organizations, clubs, court system, theater and other cultural activities. His aim is to write a book which will help Americans understand the DPs and the DP era. His telephone number is 309-436- 6641. (Carpatho-Rusyn American) □ András Boros-Kazai, Mary Boros-Kazai, and Peter Szafkc/ have been engaged in preparation of a new Hungarian language textbook for English speaking students. The manuscript is available for those interested in participating in its testing. Those who would be willing to cooperate are asked to contact the authors by mail (Dept, of Uralic and Altaic Studies, Goodbody Hall, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405) or by telephone (812-335-2233). □ Constance Irving, Box 17271, Guildford College, Greensboro, NC 27410 is working on the role of the U.S. War Refugee Board in Hungary during 1944 and 1945. The focus of the study is on the fate of Hungarian Jews as affected by the Holocaust. □ Paul Body, 5860 Douglas Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15217, is concerned with Hungarian identity in North America. He proposes to create a forum for the exchange of ideas on current research related to the Hungarian experience in North America; prepare a guidebook of research collections with pertinent materials; and conduct a comprehensive review of the present state of research. Interested persons may contact him at the above address or by telephone: 412-422-8370. □ 6 NO. 37, AUTUMN 1983, HUNGARIAN STUDIES NEWSLETTER
