In connection with the collapse of socialism, the author discusses the reality of the establishment of a self-government model which she thinks is no less realistic than the strongly criticised state socialism, or the recapitalisation experiment which holds out at least as grave dangers for Eastern Europe.

Stressing the insufficiency of the theory, the author underlines the need to take sides unfalteringly with the interests of those living on wages and salaries which should be the minimal programme of the left wing in the present situation when society's "humiliated and saddened" groups have to face a new oppression after Stalinism.

One can learn from the British historian's writing how does the Hungarian change of the political system look like from outside placing the events into the system of relations concerning the fate of the other East European countries.