J. Pótó, M. Tolnai, P. Zilahy (eds.): Understanding the Hungarian Academy of Sciences : a guide
Strategic Researches At The Hungarian Academy Of Sciences
STRATEGIC RESEARCHES AT THE HUNGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES In its Resolution 113/1996. (XII.20) the Hungarian Parliament invited the Hungarian Academy of Sciences to formulate the strategic problems the nation and the state has to face, and to work out alternative solutions. Parliament earmarked HUF 300 million for this purpose in the 1997 budget, HUF 200 million in 1998, HUF 150 million in 1999, and HUF 109.2 million in 2000. Seven important research projects were undertaken in 1997; their number increased to 14 in 1998 and to 15 in 2000 divided into 11 programmes. These programmes are designed to encourage strategic thinking in general among the politicians as well as the public. The national strategic research programmes are coordinated by the Programme Council. Its leading officials are: Chairman: FERENC GLATZ, O.M., President of HAS Co-chairman: ISTVÁN LÁNG, O.M. Secretary: MARGIT BALOGH, C.SC. Council members include the programme leaders, as well as András Inotai, Ernő Kemenes (from 1999 onwards Tamás Sárközy), Károly Manherz. An Operative Programme Committee was set up within the Programme Council, which normally holds six sessions a year; its members are: Ferenc Glatz (chairman), István Láng (co-chairman), György Enyedi, András Inotai, Ernó' Kemenes (from 1999 onwards Tamás Sárközy), Kálmán Kulcsár, Károly Manherz, and the secretary of both bodies (currently Margit Balogh). To perform the daily duties, the two-member National Strategic Research Office was set up within the Institute for Research Organisation of HAS (with Margit Balogh as head of office and Edit Győri as executive secretary). The results of these programmes have appeared in: A series of books titled Magyarország az ezredforulón. Stratégiai k utat (* s ok a Magyar Tudományos Akadémián (Hungary at the Turn of the Millennium. Strategic Researches at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences); Ezredforduló (Turn of the Millennium), a periodical appearing as a supplement to the journals História (History), Köznevelés (Public Education), Természet Világa (The World of Nature), and Technika (Technology); Műhelytanulmányok (Workshop Studies, a series including studies produced as part of the individual programmes). A SUMMARISED REVIEW OF THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF INDIVIDUAL STRATEGIC RESEARCH PROGRAMMES 1. CHANGE OF REGIME: MARKET ECONOMY, SOCIETY, POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS (Project leaders: ISTVÁN GYÖRGY TÓTH, IVÁN VITÁNYI, and KÁLMÁN KULCSÁR) The analyses aim to offer an overview of the process of the political transformation and its effects, both direct and indirect, on social structure, including changes in the way of life, lifestyle, culture and consciousness, as well as changes in social structure and in the political system. The studies also seek to show the expected tendencies and alternative solutions in the long run. The actual and expected effects of the Euro-Atlantic integration process on society are also analysed. Researches are going on under three independent, though closely related subprogrammes (projects): 1) Social structure in the 52
