Hungary1849 - 1867

Passive Resistance for National Self-Determination without

Revolution

Outline

Austro-Hungarian relations before 1849 Reasons for campaign of passive resistance and

aimsSocial base of the movementFerenc Deák and his roleStrategies of nonviolent resistanceOutcome Assessment of the movement

Strengths Weaknesses Role of Ferenc Deák

Legacy

Austro-Hungarian relations before 1849

Hungary had been ruled by Austria since 1526

1848 – Hungarians gain concessions April Laws – basis for reform and national autonomy

Franz Joseph replaces Emperor FerdinandViolent uprising in Hungary in an attempt to

gain independenceViolently crushed and the empire descends

into absolutist rule

Austro-Hungarian relations before 1849

Revolution violently suppressedNo opportunity to influence politics Constitution and April Laws suspendedPolice stateGermanization

Movement for nation self-determination

Why? Against brutal suppressing with which the revolution

had been put down Resentment towards the impossibility of influencing

parliamentary affairs

What? Reinstatement of the April Laws Autonomous Hungarian government Further social reforms

Social base of the movement

‘all of Hungarian society was opposed to the new state structure’Peter Sugar, Péter Hanák, and Tibor Frank

Main base – lower gentry, bourgeoisie and intelligentsiaSome further support comes from:

Aristocracy Peasants

Ferenc Deák

Born 1803 Liberal – against capital punishment and feudal

privilegesEnters politics – in office in Zala county Then member of the legislature In his early career tries to reform the criminal law and

improve working conditionsHe is nonviolent, belief in negotiationHe works in the government after the April Laws are

passedMinister for Finance From 1849 Deák follows two lines of protest

Passive resistance to Austrian Law Then working within the current parliamentary

system to push for change

Methods of nonviolent resistance

Passive resistance to Austrian Law Deák begins this policy of passive resistance by

retreating to his estate and refusing to take part in political life

Becomes a symbol for passive resistance which encourages people to do the same

Hungarians follow his example and refuse to attend the Imperial Parliament

Developed into a strategy He will only cooperate with the state if it is acting

constitutionally, if not he will employ a policy of passive resistance Sees taxes as illegal – refuses to pay them Boycott of Austrian goods Passively resist Austrian authority

Methods of nonviolent resistance

Working within the current system to work for change He writes a petition to parliament saying that the

Habsburg Empire is not acting constitutionally and that they will not obey their laws

He demonstrates that the October Diploma and the February Parent violate the Hungarian constitution

He writes a series of articles called the May Programme

Deák meets with the emperor

Methods of nonviolent resistance

Demonstrations They try and protest outside parliamentary buildings but are violently

crushed

Arts/culture Ferenc Deák attends to the national theatre, casino

and the races Literature

The Gipsies of Nagyida by János Arany Poetry of Mihály Tompa Novels by Mór Jórkai

Opera Bák ban by Ferenc Erkel

National dress

Methods of nonviolent resistance

Media 1801 – 1830 – 51 different periodicals produced Between 1831 and 1848 this figure rises to 98 Pesti Hírlap – used to spread key messages

Advocates return to the laws of 1848 Encourages people to refuse to pay taxes

Deák’s speeches are printed and 24 000 copies are sold in Vienna

Language Refusal to speak German ‘the only way to save the Hungarian nation is for Hungarian to

remain the language of social intercourse and for the preservation of culture within the circle of social life’

Ferenc Deák

Methods of nonviolent resistance

Violent resistance Idea of kidnapping the Emperor This violent strand of resistance most strongly associated with Lajos Kossuth Belief in second War of Independence Supports network of secret associations made up of former army members and revolutionary wants to create alliances with other nations and exploit their military forces to support a national

uprising

Outcome

Austria has to react to campaign of nonviolent resistance

Solutions Imperial Court February Patent

Not acceptable so passive resistance continuesSuppressed by the introduction of Marshall Law Emperor Franz Joseph asks Deák for adviceCompromise of 1867 (Ausgleich) – makes Hungary an

equal in the Austro-Hungarian Dual MonarchyCondition is the agreement to “common affairs”

Strengths

Viewed positively by contemporaries ‘Passive Resistance can be so organized as to become

more troublesome than armed rebellion’ The Times

Strategy means that Austria is unable to cope financially or militarily – has to agree to Hungarian demands

Mobilises a lot of people Big achievement – able to act autonomously They manage to achieve major concessions from the

Austrians Sets Hungary up for further improvements in the

future

Weaknesses

Movement has many weaknesses Lack of organisation Absence of a real theory It can’t be sustained on a long-term basis They do not achieve all their aims Wasn’t all due to the campaign of passive resistance

‘passive resistance’ is successful but it isn’t the only factor that brings about the recognition of their goals’ Mulford Sibley

‘at times conflict situations ... may be so complex that it is difficult to disentangle the relative roles of nonviolent action and other factors in producing the change’ Gene Sharp

Austrians are defeated by the Prussians

Did Deák play an instrumental role in the movement?

Some schools of thought have argued that Deák was key to the movement he inspires the idea of passive resistance he acts as a powerful symbol which encourages the

Hungarian population to keep pressing for their goalsOthers are sceptical about the significance of

Deák’s role in the movement he doesn’t establish a political doctrine he doesn’t display a huge amount of leadership no national movement is set up he has no way of mobilising resources

What is the legacy of this movement?

‘first mass or corporate form of non-violent resistance’

Buddhadeva Bhattacharyya

Inspires further movements Illustrates the power of nonviolent tactics Influences Sinn Fein Indirectly influences Gandhi as he leaves about nonviolent

techniques from watching the Irish struggle against GBMovement is seen by Csapody and Weber as ‘a forerunner

of Gandhi’s later mass satyagraha campaigns’ whilst ‘its leader Ferenc Deák [can be seen] as a prototype Mahatma’

Discussion

To what extent do you agree with Csapody and Weber’s claim that the Hungarian campaign of passive resistance was:

‘a forerunner of Gandhi’s later mass satyagraha campaigns’ whilst ‘its leader Ferenc Deák [can be seen] as a prototype

Mahatma’