Starting out from the fact that privatisation is a world trend, the study discusses the theoretical basic elements and functions of privatisation. The author compares the different privatisation practices of the various West European countries and stresses that the East European privatisation starting out from a completely different basis, should be considered to be different. He underlines the sources of conflicts involved and reviews the privatisation practice of each East European country. He concludes that privatisation in East Europe is not guided by economic rationality rather it serves the redistribution of power.

The study warns that the Gulf war can be the overture to a "new barbarism". The main danger of that war lies in the fact that it loosens the almost existing concensus concerning the rejection of war solutions. We live under unprecedented conditions from the point of view that today the crisis of capitalism coincides with the theoretical-practical crisis of anti-capitalism. The Gulf war can also exemplify that fear itself can promote drifting to war. A factor increasing the dangers is that once again it has been proved that by nature, capitalism is unable to exclude war solutions.

The founder of the Christian base-community movement called "Bokor" [Cluster] discusses the determining experiences of his life. He was sentenced to a total of nine years in prison in the Rákosi and Kádár regimes but with his conviction he has also invited the anger of the official Church circles. Bulányi is a sovereign thinking piarist monk-teacher. He discusses the realisation of the need to stand up against intolerance and the importance of freedom and loyalty in solidarity and thinking.

Different from our previous practice, this double issue of Eszmélet is organised around not only one but three main topics: "Religion and leftism", "Capitalism for beginners" and the "Hatered and the psychology of genocide". The three thematic blocks follow each other in this order.

The short study warns against the grave dangers of applying a shock therapy in Hungary. The sinking of two thirds of society bears the danger of the gaining ground of right-wing radicalism.