Decomposition and Recomposition in Hungarian Agriculture

This group of articles addresses the development of capitalist structures in Hungarian agriculture. The value of the contributions lies in the close-up view that each case study provides of the restructuring process: that is the dismantling and fundamental transformation of the old structures and the building of new ones. These close-ups help readers understand the complex, unclear organisational and ownership schemes that have been developed by those former co-operatives which chose to transform themselves into one form of private company or another. 
Where the management pulled together, reacted in time, were first to use the opportunities, won sooner (Nigel Swain: ‘Aranyszőlő’), or later (Monika M. Váradi: ‘Harmónia’), while others almost missed the boat (Katalin Kovács: Homokvár). The studies also reveal how failure can be overcome and, at worst, the ruins of a once intact farm can provide a starting point for those who build up their enterprise from below (Anna Hamar: Farming enterprises coming from “nowhere”). These articles also show the diverse interests and views in the ranks of ordinary co-operative members (Swain: ‘Aranyszőlő’) as well as among managers (Váradi: ‘Harmónia’, Kovács: Homokvár). The closest perspective on ordinary villagers is provided by János Bali. Apart from a valuable ethnographic description of the roots and practices of raspberry-growing in a village community, he casts light on the down side of this stage in restructuring, when a former secondary source of income suddenly became the main one, reducing the consumption of the family to an extremely low level. The direction of change revealed from the case studies is contrasted with statistical data in the background study by Katalin Kovács and Zsuzsa Bihari.