How was it possible for a political system which declared itself to be the representative of the workers' and peasants' power to define the mass movement of 1956, supported by a considerable part of working class, as a counter-revolution? Why and how far has the really existing working class accepted the consolidation of the sixties and seventies? How did later this pragmatic resignation cease to exist and why has the worker class too, become a supporter of changing the political system? The historian in his paper seeks to answer these and similar essential ques­tions.

The study presenting concrete mechanisms of dependence underlines the responsibility of the selfish and short-sighted policy of the IMF in the crisis of the countries of the East and Central European region following the change of system. The demolished COMECON was not replaced by another economic system, behind slogans of building the market, the de­struction of the market was taking place which has had a very negative impact on the circumstances of living in these countries. On an ideological basis, the development of various collective forms of ownership has been obstructed, whereas this could have been an effective form for the elimi­nation of state ownership under the specific conditions of the societies of the region. The author refers to the helplessness of East and Central Europe, the very weak bargaining position of the governments in face of the West which attracts them (while pushing them back immediately under the influence of being potential rivals).

The article which was originally written for Anglo-Saxon readers, de­scribes the position of East and Central Europe after 1945 as one which was characterised by a dual dependence (depending on the empire and the market) from the very beginning. The article shows how market de­pendences gained ground step by step as against the dependence on the empire in the Kadar regime. In the interpretation of the change of system he joins those views according to which the transformations linked with the change of system are much more the result of external causes (those of the world system), than that of the inner, organic development stemming in the social relations of the given countries. At the same time, the increase in the external links evidently played a role in the develop­ment that the external, world system influences could exert their impact without difficulties.

The article by László Tutő describes a less known political trial of the Kadar era, the court trial against the "left wing" Csaba Kemeny. In his introduction, Tamás Krausz broadens the horizon of the affair and tries to determine the relationship of the Kadar regime to "left wing" opposition linked with the "Heller"-case.

In connection with four books, the author outlines his opinion that one of the preconditions of the renewal of the left wing is the necessary breach with the opportunism of the representatives who have become officials.