Civil Organizations of Agrarian Society in Hungary

The book summarises 100 years of operation of the basic type of the Hungarian agrarian associations, the reading circles The associations were established as a result of civilisation in the 1860-ies and operating until the beginning of the 1950-ies, i.e. the setting up of the communist dictatorship. They played a wide range of economic, cultural, and public roles. The organizations were closely involved in improving the peasantry’s general and professional knowledge, ensuring diversified cultural and entertaining options, raising a demand for public information gathering and expression of opinion, and representing the interests of the inhabitants. Civil associations were operating according to democratic internal rules and independently from political institutions. They tried to provide better living conditions for the local population. They shaped people’s attitude, transmitted civil values, norms, and forms of conduct, and strengthened the identity of the community. The book dealing with the history of the Hungarian agrarian society is primarily recommended to those who interested in the in social and cultural history and in the lifestyle of peasant.