This study illuminates the problems connected with Hungary’s transition to a civil society, while providing insights into the development of political culture and the rise of civic and national consciousness in Hungary over the last 150 years. It deals with the growth of a middle class, the modernization of society and the conflict involved in this process, which determined political and ideological trends at the turn of the century. The final section is devoted to assessing the importance of national symbols and myths. The book blends political, social and cultural history, setting Hungary’s development within the context of Central Europe as a whole and thus providing a comparison with the development of other countries of the region. At the same time, through its exploration of historical trends, the volume sheds light on the processes of contemporary political and social thought.