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In the thick of relationships? Personal and distance relationships with relatives and friends in Hungary in 2015
65-101Views:75The study presents the structure and intensity of the relationships of the Hungarian population over 16 years of age through a descriptive analysis of four variables measuring the frequency of personal and distance contact with relatives and friends from the EU-SILC 2015 survey. According to the data, the relationship structure is on average balanced, half of the relationships are related to relatives or friends, and the relative proportions of personal and long-distance relationships are similar. According to our results, in addition to age, the financial situation of the household has a significant correlation with the characteristics of the relationship structure. One of the lessons of multivariate regression models is that the effect of other background variables on the relationship structure intensifies in parallel with aging, leading to a deepening of relationship inequalities among the elderly. Another lesson of the models is that the inclusion of household characteristics (financial situation, number of household members, material transfer relationship with other households) has a significant effect on the mechanism of individual background variables, thus confirming that a deeper study of relationship intensity and relationship structure within the household is essential. At the end of our analysis, we compiled clusters based on the intensity of relationships, the direction of relationships, and the channel of contacting, with a relative majority of more than one-third of the respondents with extremely weak relationship embeddedness.
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Structure and communitas: Subcultural problemsolving knowledge in an alternative high school
153-174.Views:42The paper describes the relationship between subcultural and school/institutional interpretations
in the inner discourse of an alternative school (the ’Diákház’) in Budapest. Interpretations and
practices, that belonging two different interpretive frameworks, appear simultaneously and
intertwined in the Diákház communication scene. This contributes to problem-solving
capacities/knowledge that individually do not appear in either of the two. In this discourse, the
subcultural manifestations of difference, deviance, marginality, resistance or communitas, and
the manifestations of knowledge, autonomy, responsibility and the hierarchical structure of the
school sometimes appear in opposition, sometimes in reinforcement to each other. The knowledge
formed in the discourse can be used by the Diákház to keep (formerly drop-out) students within
the institution, and by the students to reduce their own feeling of invalidity. In this way, the
Diákház is able to use the two opposite social states, communitas and structure, to its own
benefit -
Training and employment: Information and knowledge flows between training institutions and employers
31-48Views:51For a region's economy to develop, it is essential to develop integrated forms of operation that manage the available resources efficiently. This is particularly true in a border micro-region with a predominantly small population, where for decades farming has been essentially based on agricultural subsistence and employment opportunities have been limited. Matching the employment and training structure, balancing supply and demand in the training and employment system can also be beneficial for the economic and social development of a disadvantaged micro-region. The development of border micro-regions was seriously handicapped before the change of regime. Small and medium-sized settlements on both sides of the border were depopulated and their inhabitants were ageing. Over the past few years, regional development has been based on local needs and existing resources, resulting in the creation of nearly 2 500 small and medium-sized enterprises in 21 municipalities in the Érmellék sub-region, where the research is located. However, the economic and employment functions of the organisations created can only be developed if the specialist needs of the businesses are met in the right quantity and quality structure.
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Limits of the relationships in the roma communities living on the margins of society in Budapest
97-120.Views:47In this essay, I aim to summarize the main characteristics of the relationship structure of
poor Roma families in Budapest. The generational changes in the relationship structure are
illustrated by interviews and a short review of the relevant literature. In my research, I try to
find the answer to the question, whetherthe examined segregated streets and apartment blocks
– individually or collectively – can be called a community. And also if these segregated areas
have a describable connection limit, if we can describe them in a geographical or social sense,
or ifthese relationship have ethnical boundaries. I recorded my semi-structured interviews in
the 8th and 9th district of Budapest in 2017. I interviewed twenty people from ages of sixteen to
fifty-five. All parts of the interviews are accompanied by the related analytical and explanatory
notes. -
Electoral Systems in East Central Europe
26-50Views:47The democratic transition in Eastern and Central Europe provides a good opportunity to
examine how to apply the findings of the science of elections in a new dimension. This study
based on 167 elections in 23 countries shows the formation, evolution and political consequences
of the new electoral systems. The hypothesis of the paper is that the elections and electoral
systems in this region not always correspond to the conventional wisdom. Our analysis divides
into five parts the region (Central Europe, Western and Eastern Balkans, Baltic States and the
other former republics of Soviet Union). This division helps to get an sophisticatad picture about
the emergence and changes of the new electoral systems. By showing country by country we can
demonstrate the similarities and differences between and within subgroups as well. Finally
using three well-known indices (least square index, effective electoral and parliamentary
number of parties) the study summarizes – country by country and subgroups by subgroups by
type – the political consequences for the proportionality and party structure. The analysis of the
167 elections demonstrates that Eastern and Central Europe does not show uniformity regarding
the political consequences of the electoral systems. Their influence is more moderate than in the
established democracies and they are also much more volatile. Their changes have shown rather
diverging than converging trend in the last quarter century. The conventional findings are
difficult to apply for this region, they are only partially valid, especially the formation of party
structure differ from the previous experiences. In sum the Eastern and Central European elections
do not invalidate the conventional statements of the elctoral studies but they offen do not show
corresponding image. So they significantly contribute to the further development and refinement
of the previous findings. -
About the ideological dimensions of fear
74-111Views:80The main goal of of my research is to explore the right and left dimensions of the phenomenon of fear. I would like to argue that the categories of left and right continue to be defining aspects of political identities, and by mapping their emotional structure we can better understand the current relevance of these ideologies. The studies that have examined political fears have mostly linked fear to conservativism and right wing-populism, while the fears of the left have generated far less scientific interest. A study also wants to respond to this research gap. In this paper, I would like to present the potential connection points between fear and ideological identity. The structure of the study is as follows: first, I outline the relationship between ideology and moral emotions, and then I analyze fear as a moral emotion. After that I present how fear is connected to conservatism and right-wing populism, and then I try to illustrate the ideological differences with two types of politically relevant fear, i.e. climate anxiety and migration-related fear. Finally, I add context to these specific political fears that is I also interpret them in the Hungarian political system. The study ends with drawing conclusions and outlining future research directions.
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Polarization and heterogenization of social strata, with the conservation of „the big structure” : Dilemmas on the basis of researches made in the late two decades
62-88Views:62Recently the investigations were focused rather the polarization, so the questions connected
with the inner structure of the different strata got less interesting, The most important aim of
our study to give an empirically founded picture about the heterogenity of the different strata,
and paralelly about the conservation of „the big structure” of the society. The study was based on
the survey of stratification carried out by The Hugarian Statistical Office, in 2016. Observations
showed, that the revealing of the attributes of the heterogenity can be solved only by developing
the different modells and schemes. The key question was, that by the modification of Andorka
scheme could we gather more punctual informations about the formation of the inequality? Our
results mirrored, that by the help of the revised schemes we could show bigger inequality, than
with the originel ones. -
Analysis of the space-based identity structure of rural elite in a region of Szeklerland
32-49Views:56The new challenges of rural areas support expansion of the range of professional research and
analysis focusing on local or regional identity structures as a quality factor of development.
These new approaches are particularly important in the rural areas of the post-socialist
countries, which are in the initial stages of the recognition of the potential inherent in the
endogenous development paradigm. In Szeklerland, according to the new rural development
paradigm, place-based identity could be a potential for the sustainable development. The aim
of my paper is to present the major dimensions of the place-based identity structure in a microregion of Szeklerland. -
The characteristics of social contact intensity, contact frequency and contact structure in Hungary in 2006 and 2015
102-138Views:58The study aims at comparing the Hungarian results of the questions on the frequency of personal and distance contact with relatives and friends in the 2006 and 2015 ad hoc modules of EU-SILC. According to our results, in line with the findings of previous Hungarian research, compared to 2006, there were fewer contacts in Hungary in 2015. Relations with friends, especially those held in person, were less exposed to weakening compared to relations with relatives. Among the different social groups, the already disadvantaged were typically negatively affected by either the change in intensity or the structure of relationships. However, the situation of the elderly and the inhabitants of deprived households deteriorated in all three dimensions examined: their relations weakened more strongly, and those related to relatives and personal ones further narrowed by 2015. This result indicates that the social disintegration of these groups has accelerated particularly between the two years, which poses a serious social policy challenge.
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Political reorganization in the shadow of the pandemic and war: The 2022 Latvian parliamentary election and its consequences
73-94Views:70Latvia’s party system has been one of the most unstable in European comparison since the 1990s, essentially since independence and democratization. Although there was a period in the middle of the 2010s, which showed the stabilization of the range of relevant parties and a decrease in the number of parties, by the end of the decade the fluctuation between the parties of the Baltic republics was again high. The Kariņš cabinet, formed after a record long time after the 2018 election, nevertheless set a unique record in the country: it was the first government to complete a full four-year parliamentary term. The government faced two challenges during its tenure, the pandemic that began in the spring of 2020, and the Russian aggression against Ukraine that began on February 24, 2022. Both had a significant impact on the development of the party structure. The aim of this paper is to present the changes in the political palette of Latvian parties in the last two legislative cycles, to analyze the results of the October 2022 election, giving priority to the effects of the Russian-Ukrainian war on the transformation of the party structure and the results of the elections.
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Social vulnerability and interpersonal support in disaster experienced Hungarian settlements
27-53Views:93Natural disasters unequally affect poor and wealthy populations, which can be observed everywhere regardless of the economic performance of the respective country. Paradigms focusing on physical hazards and response can not be considered, while social, political and cultural causes are rarely mentioned in the discussions around particular disaster events. Marginalized households and communities, and populations with less income are more affected by disasters. A significant proportion of Hungary’s settlements are deprived or otherwise marginalized, which makes it necessary to raise social and economic questions related to disasters, and investigate them from a spatial aspect. This study is based on case studies of five disaster-affected settlements and encompasses a social vulnerability approach. The research is based on interviews with key informants involved in response to the respective disasters and broadened with an experiment to use the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List as an instrument to investigate community resilience. The ISEL is capable of observing the individuals’ self-perception of themselves in their communities and how they can rely on others in their environment. The survey, with the participation of 103 people, discovered discrepancies in the level and structure of interpersonal support, which is tangible based on the interviews.
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The Earning and cash management characteristics of the roma communities living on the margins of society in Budapest
110-128Views:64In this essay, I aim to explore the income and cash management characteristics of the roma
communities living on the margins of society in Budapest. In my research, my main focus was the
way people are living in the segregated streets of “Magdolna district” reacted to the declining
opportunities after the economical system change. Another question to be answered is what
strategies these families and households use to provide the sufficient amount of income, and if
there is any kind of economical or ’life-management’ community function between them beyond
the segregation.
After reviewing the job opportunities, I concentrated on the characteristics of the consumption
structure. I interviewed them about their costs of living as well as the possible ways of reducing
their expences. I also tried to examine how the cooperation of extended families effect the
everyday life of the smaller parts of these families. -
Globalization theory of late modernity and identities in risk society
101-121Views:56Modernity is the sum of the fragmented cultural systems of meaning, that are mutually influential
on each other, plus of economic and political relations continually changing and transforming –
a complexity that manifests itself in the structure of the (world) risk society even on the level of
the individual. Following the late modern turn, the phenomenon of the means and opportunities
determining the ability of choice is not being shared equally, but multiplied as regards global
actors, as well as choice of identity, perceptibility of risks and facing them. The study presents
the new inequality factors and the asymmetric power relations of the late modernity along the
works by the recently died sociologists of the globalization theory (Ulrich Beck and Zygmunt
Bauman). In the world risk society, each community and individual bear the risks indifferently.
Accordingly, the ascertainments of the study are that the globalised economy and the subjects
of the local poverty do not possess the same degree of the freedom of maneuvering. In order
to demonstrate this and also to identify each postmodern life-strategy, the study relies on the
works on identity by the discussed sociologists. According to the latter, the study concludes, that
the reflexivity of the risk is the most profitable for those who are in the high position of the new
inequality, thus, have the power to determine conflicts generated by them and inflict them on
those excluded from the struggle of definition of risk. -
Interpersonal relationships in Hungary – an overview
72-93.Views:59Our paper aims to demonstrate that social structure has significant impact on the formation of
interpersonal relations. We review and analyse the characteristics of ego-centric interpersonal
networks of Hungarians based on data from nationally representative adult population surveys
between the mid-1980’s up to 2015. We focus especially on core discussion networks, friendship
ties and weak ties and analyse how the transition to market economy influenced interpersonal
relationships. As expected, the large-scale social changes brought about by the transition
changed interpersonal networks as well. During the first decade of the transition (in the 1990’s)
one could not witness a significant change of personal networks, nonetheless the adaptation
process was easier for people supported by strong, traditional family ties. Non-kin ties, especially
friendships seem to gain significance at the expense of kin relationships. Overall, resources
available through weak ties seem to be decreasing. -
Do we have the effect of poverty ethnicisation in the Biharkeresztes micro-region?
81-92Views:44At a research in the Biharkeresztes micro-region (conducted via semi-structured interviews) we
asked family households living in poverty. Roma households were mostly among the respondents.
We also found that that estimated number of Roma population in the settlements correlated to
the number of people working in public service. The examination of age structure diagrams at
the settlements showed that the ones the mayors estimated to have a higher Roma population,
are the younger settlements. The fact that there can be a causal relationship between these
phenomena is supported by numerous previous researches (Kemény, 2004; Molnár, 2007). These
researches pointed out the effect of poverty ethnicisation in Hungary (Ladányi – Szelényi, 2004).
Furthermore, a research conducted in 2007 at the neighbouring Szabocs-Szatmár-Bereg County
also confirmed the ethnicisation theory (Fónai et al.). The aim of this study is to examine the
possibility of poverty ethnicisation at the five settlements of the Biharkeresztes micro-region,
with the help of the implemented qualitative inquiry, previous researches, and databases from
CSO and TeIR . -
The Civis and the In-migrants: Spatial Patterns of Industrial Modernization in Debrecen 1870
186-241Views:72Scholars engaged in research into the history of Debrecen have long been eager to get an
answer – beyond their specific research inquiries – to the question whether the development of
the city had had unique features and if they had what would hallmark the unique character of
development? Was there or is there a kind of “Debrecenness”?
My study examines – with the help of a GIS relational database (DTTTA1870) – what
peculiarities can be grasped in the transformation of the traditional spatial and social structure
of Debrecen enforced by the political change and industrial modernization processes two
decades after the change of feudal regime (1848/49).
The analysis focuses on whether the alteration process of the factors determining the social
status (residential segregation, neighborhood, spatial segregation and coexistence, other spatial
and social hierarchical characteristics) in the cases of the “deep-rooted Debrecen residents”
(cívis) and of the settlers showed specific types described in the literature or showed specific
features. -
Social stratification among Transylvanian youngsters: youth in the new social structure
67-95Views:41We investigate changes in the socio-economical, labor market, and educational situation of the
Hungarian youngsters from Transylvania; the investigation is based on two large-scale (MOZAIK
2001 and Youth 2016) surveys. The principal research question is the choice of the paradigm
from the toolbox of social stratification that can describe the inequalities within this group.
Our conclusions state that the influence traditional variables diminished, and that horizontal
differences must be taken also into consideration to better describe stratification. -
Reification, child protection in lock-ups
34-46Views:80This paper examines how the child protection system can address the problems of children and young adults, compensate for childhood disadvantage and promote successful social integration. To what extent are the professional means available within the state structure to achieve all these goals - as declared in the Child Protection Act of 1997. The interpretation of solidarity as a value in child protection is clear, since child protection aims to improve the situation of families affected by child protection problems and to promote their healthy personal development. The study, based on interviews with professionals and experts and a short case study, draws attention to the shortcomings and limitations of the system.
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Where do young villagers work? Types of social bonds and occupational characters of young generations living in small villages
55-85.Views:72One of the defining elements of local identity is the opportunity to work and the chance ofear- ning money. These factors are especially important in small villages within low-populated rural areas, where due to changes in the production structure and land ownership job opportunities become less and less. In the absence of livelihood opportunities and adequate income for young people living in the countryside, the migration process is intensifying, the villages are aging and become more and more depopulated. A smaller part of young villagers however remain in the settlement, with new marginalized settlers from urban areas, who appear alongside them.
Our case study, based on 104 interviews in 12 settlements, seeks to find whether young peop- le – aged 19–25 – look at village life as a constraint or an opportunity. The central question is whether they think that this marginal status, with an assumingly cheap village life, is the only choice for them, or they are convinced that they are staying in small villages due to their cons- cious choice in favour of a rural lifestyle.
Focusing on employment strategies, the aim of this paper is to look at the dimensions of local attachment of the target group, and to show the various labour market characteristics of the target groupthat develops within the given framework.
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Challenges in rural Hungary in the post-pandemic period: Perception of problems in „emerging settlements” of Sellye district
5-31Views:184The social problems of marginalised rural areas have intensified and transformed in recent years, particularly in the context of pandemic and economic crisis. In the countries of the Central and Eastern European region integration of marginalized areas is a major challenge. Unlike in the West, segregation and ghettoisation are problems of small rural settlements far from prosperous centres. In Hungarian countryside, the life of small villages, which are located far from economic centres and lack institutions, continues to be characterised by negative migration trends. In this article, we present the situation of seven small villages in southern Baranya, which are covered by the programme to help the 300 most disadvantageous Hungarian settlements to integration, in the light of the perception of problems of the population living there. Our survey aimed to explore the difficulties related to the pandemic and everyday life at local level. The assessment of subjective perceptions provided an opportunity to structure the disadvantaged rural population from a specific perspective and to analyse the problems of the characteristics of each group.
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Advantages of the home ground: The role of the social contacts in the immobile status of the rural youth
24-54.Views:57The paper deals with the effects of the structure and the working of the egocentric network to the immobile status of rural youth. The research was made in 2018 among 19-25-year-old youth living in villages with not more than 2500 inhabitants. More, than a hundred (104) structured interview was made: 53 youth and 51 parents. Firstly, the study shows the network size and composition of the examined population, then the influence of the revealed functions of the egocentric network of the youth to their immobility. Based on the data the egocentric network of the youth mainly consist of strong ties: close kin and other relatives. From the weak ties the most frequent contacts belong to the education institutions as primary or grammar school, university. The local schools have a great role in the forming of the friendships. The local working place contacts, neighbours and acquaintanceships are not general actors of the egocentric networks of the youth.
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Understanding Aspects to the Ethnospecific Researches on the Gypsy Jazz
23-39Views:69The early “research of Gypsies”, romology, then the visible and the hidden processes of
“tziganology” in anthropology included a shift in the state of understanding between the
hillside of critical interpretation studies and that of local group psychology. They also involved
the research of folk tales, dancing, poverty, examining segregation and participatory action
methodology as well as innovation and rebirth of the musicological research of Gypsy music.
The terminological aspect of “us” and “others”, expressing alterity and identity, points towards
the more complex study of (ethnic) “minorities”, moreover knowledge and field studies, and
results of examining narratives (such as tales, dances, visual worksof art, publicity, religion and
community), bring us closer (by way of political and scientific pragmatism) to signalling a new
era of empathic understanding. The aim of the paper is to highlight the ways leading to that
goal, putting the musical aspects of the shift in focus, consisting of stylistic inventions, a worldmusic-based openness towards instruments and performance cultures, which nevertheless still
carries the signs of a new era of projection and knowledge contents, first-person-narrative and
narrative identities. Finding answers to the question “where did it come from” might be aided
by contemplating “where does it go”. This would be both the aim and partially the structure of
my thematic essay. -
Politics and media - Structure of the Hungarian media network in autumn 2018
107-129Views:65This article focusing on the changes within the Hungarian media sphere after the Orban–
Simicska conflict. After the conflict the Hungarian media sphere has changed radically. Those of
the media outlets which belonged to Lajos Simicska had cease their operation. Business persons
who have close ties to Fidesz has founded new media outlets. In my article I analyzed three
political case which happened during the Fall 2018. I assumed that the media sphere in Hungary
had become more polarized than before. In order to prove it, I created two groups of the media
outlets. The first one, which have close ties to the governing party, and the second one which has
not got ties to Fidesz. During my research I used three different methods. First, I
recorded astatistics about the articles. According to this, the media agenda shows large difference between
the groups. I did content analysis on the articles, which shows us a huge polarization between
the groups. The third one, was network analysis. The network analysis did not confirmed the
polarization hypothesis. -
Labour law and insurance from patriarchy to the beginning of nationalisation
279-282Views:42If the reader picks up Zsombor Bódy's The Society of Industrial Labour, the title page will probably lead him to a long discussion of the new problems and tasks caused by industrialisation, and the structure and situation of social relations that it changed.
However, reading the first pages, we understand that Bódy, touching on the deeper social context, selects only a slice of the complex problems of industrial society of the time, the development and change of the institutional system related to work from the mid-19th century to the end of the Second World War. The author, who has extensively processed relevant volumes of international and national literature and numerous archival and printed sources, has synthesised his findings in this volume after several smaller studies. The work contains a number of new approaches and new problem definitions, which I would like to reflect on below. From the book we can learn about the views and plans of the time in relation to labour, the provisions that were born, from the patriarchal view to the beginning of the era of nationalisation. A great advantage of the work is that it analyses at length the prevailing social policy ideas of each period, contrasting the different views. It deals not only with governmental ideas, but also with the views of the opposition, the interest groups and, last but not least, the experts and their associations of the time. It examines the power of each organisation in each era and the influence it could exert on decision-makers, achieving different results, even against other groups. All of this is to the advantage of the essay, and the author perhaps sometimes over-details the battles between different views.
