From Communism to Democracy: The Democratic Transition in Hungary

Authors : Attila Gökhun Dayıoğlu

Pages : 218-237

Doi:10.25272/icps.1556134

View : 37 | Download : 57

Publication Date : 2025-01-18

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Hungary’s transition from communism to democracy presented a series of profound challenges, highlighting the complexities inherent in post-communist transformations. This study addresses the central research question: What were the internal and external factors facilitated Hungary’s relatively peaceful transition to democracy, and how did these shape its political, economic, and institutional trajectories? Despite the peaceful nature of the transition, the process was marked by substantial difficulties in the political, economic, and institutional domains. Politically, the legacy of the one-party system posed significant hurdles to the establishment of a stable multi-party democracy. The National Round Table negotiations, though crucial to the peaceful transition, were fraught with tensions as competing factions representing the ruling elite and opposition struggled over the pace, scope, and direction of reform. This discord reflected deeper uncertainties about Hungary’s post-communist identity and governance structures. Institutionally, the consolidation of democracy was hindered by weak state capacity and the challenge of establishing the rule of law. The legacy of authoritarianism fostered public scepticism toward newly formed political institutions, exacerbated by concerns over corruption and governance deficits. Ultimately, Hungary’s democratic transition underscores the broader difficulties faced by post-communist states as they sought to reconcile the legacies of authoritarianism with the demands of democratisation and economic modernisation. The Hungarian case illustrates how external pressures and internal dynamics can interact to shape the trajectory of democratic transitions, offering critical insights into the broader process of post-authoritarian democratisation in Central and Eastern Europe.
Keywords : Macaristan, Demokratik Geçiş, Komünizm Sonrası Macaristan, Yuvarlak Masa Görüşmeleri, Siyasi Reform