The study presents the four main approaches in the historiography of Stalinism, summarising features of the system along the modernisation school, the totalitarian paradigm, various revisionists, and the main theses of the authors of the civilisation theory. Although scientific aspects increasingly come before in the examination of the Stalin phenomenon, in the environment of global capitalism, the research of state socialism is effected on the long run by the choice of accepting or rejecting socialism as a new civilisation.

Ideas on the excercise of social interests and rights in the environment of today's global capitalism.

Is the legacy  of Attila József alive and what ideas are generated by his surviving spirit? What is the relationship between his poetry and teh public sentiment of our times? Does his belonging to the socialist left send powerful messages to the generation of the 21st century?

All versions of state socialism act(ed) within the confines of the Marxian political communism. The Hungarian "New Economic Mechanism" has proved that there was no possibility for the socialist reform of the system; the reform projected the transition itself. Because of the acute legitimisation deficit, the one party system is a necessary criterion of state socialism.

The new phse of globalisation is marked by an agressive, militaristic and unilaterist America. The concept of the rival blocks has returned. Socialism is a logal answer that offers solidarity and cooperation.