Author : Jason Wittenberg
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
ISBN 13 : 1139454935
Total Pages : 11 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (394 download)
Book Synopsis Crucibles of Political Loyalty by : Jason Wittenberg
Download or read book Crucibles of Political Loyalty written by Jason Wittenberg and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2006-04-03 with total page 11 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book 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.