Passive Resistance for National Self-Determination without Revolution

1. Passive Resistance for National Self-Determination without Revolution Hungary 1849 - 1867

2. Outline • Austro-Hungarian relations before 1849 • Reasons for campaign of passive resistance and aims • Social base of the movement • FerencDeák and his role • Strategies of nonviolent resistance • Outcome • Assessment of the movement • Strengths • Weaknesses • Role of FerencDeák • Legacy

3. 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 Ferdinand • Violent uprising in Hungary in an attempt to gain independence • Violently crushed and the empire descends into absolutist rule

4. Austro-Hungarian relations before 1849 Revolution violently suppressed No opportunity to influence politics Constitution and April Laws suspended Police state Germanization

5. 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

6. Social base of the movement ‘all of Hungarian society was opposed to the new state structure’ Peter Sugar, PéterHanák, and Tibor Frank • Main base – lower gentry, bourgeoisie and intelligentsia • Some further support comes from: • Aristocracy • Peasants

7. FerencDeák • Born 1803 • Liberal – against capital punishment and feudal privileges • Enters politics – in office in Zala county • Then member of the legislature • In his early career tries to reform the criminal law and improve working conditions • He is nonviolent, belief in negotiation • He works in the government after the April Laws are passed • Minister 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Methods of nonviolent resistance • Demonstrations • They try and protest outside parliamentary buildings but are violently crushed • Arts/culture • FerencDeák attends to the national theatre, casino and the races • Literature • The Gipsies of Nagyida by JánosArany • Poetry of MihályTompa • Novels by MórJórkai • Opera • Bák ban by FerencErkel • National dress

11. Methods of nonviolent resistance • Media • 1801 – 1830 – 51 different periodicals produced • Between 1831 and 1848 this figure rises to 98 • PestiHírlap – 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’ FerencDeák

12. Methods of nonviolent resistance • Violent resistance • Idea of kidnapping the Emperor • This violent strand of resistance most strongly associated with LajosKossuth • 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

13. Outcome • Austria has to react to campaign of nonviolent resistance • Solutions • Imperial Court • February Patent • Not acceptable so passive resistance continues • Suppressed by the introduction of Marshall Law • Emperor Franz Joseph asks Deák for advice • Compromise of 1867 (Ausgleich) – makes Hungary an equal in the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy • Condition is the agreement to “common affairs”

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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 goals • Others 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

17. 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 GB • Movement is seen by Csapody and Weber as ‘a forerunner of Gandhi’s later mass satyagraha campaigns’ whilst ‘its leader FerencDeák [can be seen] as a prototype Mahatma’

18. 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 FerencDeák [can be seen] as a prototype Mahatma’