The author compares the Polish and the Hungarian opposition movements which – despite the similarities of the economic conditions – differ in their sociological structure and political nature. While the Polish transformation was forced by a movement of social self-defence organised from below, here this process was initiated by groups of intellectuals from above and the prulalistic political interests did not rely on the self-organisin'g process that has taken place in society. The study directs attention to the sharp contradictions and dangers of the social vacuum that is behind the power struggle.