Crucibles of political loyalty : church institutions and electoral continuity in Hungary / / Jason Wittenberg [[electronic resource]]

• Record Nr.: UNINA9910784303003321
• Autore: Wittenberg Jason <1963->
• Pubbl/distr/stampa: Cambridge : , : Cambridge University Press, , 2006
• ISBN: 1-107-16481-8; 1-280-48035-1; 0-511-19143-X; 0-511-19184-7; 0-511-19066-2; 0-511-31604-6; 0-511-51046-2; 0-511-19098-0
• Descrizione fisica: 1 online resource (xiv, 293 pages) : digital, PDF file(s)
• Collana: Cambridge studies in comparative politics
• Disciplina: 322/.1/094390904
• Soggetti: Church and state - Hungary - History - 20th century; Elections - Hungary - 20th century; Hungary Church history 20th century
• Lingua di pubblicazione: Inglese
• Formato: Materiale a stampa
• Livello bibliografico: Monografia
• Note generali: Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).
• Nota di bibliografia: Includes bibliographical references (p. 257-284) and index.
• Nota di contenuto: Explaining political persistence -- Electoral persistence and volatility in Hungary -- The churches first confront communism -- The battle for souls, 1948-1956 -- The battle for souls after 1956 -- Church community and rightist persistence : statistical evidence.
• Sommario/riassunto: This book, first published in 2006, investigates one of the oldest paradoxes in political science: why do mass political loyalties persist even amid prolonged social upheaval and disruptive economic development. Drawing on extensive archival research and an original database of election results, this book explores the paradox of political persistence by examining Hungary's often tortuous path from pre- to post-communism. Wittenberg reframes the theoretical debate, and then demonstrates how despite the many depredations of communism, the Roman Catholic and Calvinist Churches transmitted loyalties to ; parties of the Right. Contrary to conventional wisdom, Church resistance occurred not from above, but from below. Hemmed in and harassed by communist party cadres, parish priests and pastors employed a variety of ingenious tactics to ensure the continued survival of local church institutions. These institutions insulated their adherents from pressures to assimilate into the surrounding socialist milieu. Ultimately this led to political continuity between pre- and post-communism.