The Crimes of Communism Foundation and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung are jointly organizing an academic conference, the subject of which is the impact of Cominform, founded in 1947, on the Hungarian endeavors of communists. Our lecturers analyze the workings of this Moscow-based and -operated bureau and how it influenced political, social and economic policies in Hungary. Cominform brought the first steps of Sovietization to Hungary and the other Soviet-occupied countries. With its founding, Soviet methods and practices were rapidly and bluntly implemented in every facet of life, which translated to absolute communist control of the economy, culture and the private lives of its subjects. At the same time class conflict and struggle came to bloody fruition. The lecturers are all respected academic researchers of the subject.
Program
14.30 Registration
15.00 Introduction and welcoming remarks:
Péter Eötvös, Crimes of Communism Foundation
Frank Spengler, Head of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Hungary Office
Bence Rétvári, Parliamentary Secretary of State, Ministry of Human Capacities
15.35 Tibor Zinner (VERITAS, Head of the Archives): How it Began in Hungary: Introductory Presentation
16.00 István Ötvös (Pázmány Péter Catholic University – Faculty of Humanities, Senior Lecturer): Popular Front and Party Rule – The Two Faces of Communist Policy
16.45 Coffee break
17.00 Frigyes Kahler (retired judge): The Executioner: Dr. Ferenc Vida
17.30 Pál Germuska (Eötvös Loránd University): The Sovietization of the Economy in Hungary and Eastern / Central Europe in 1947–49
18.00 Károly Szerencsés (Eötvös Loránd University – Faculty of Humanities, Associate Professor): From Censorship to a Turning Point: Politics and Culture in Hungary in 1945–48
18.30 József Estók (Retired Prison Service Brigadier General): Prison in Hungary in 1945–56
Location: Danubius Hotel Gellért, Tea szalon (Salon), Szt. Gellért tér (Square) 1, Budapest
Date: 3 PM on (Thursday) October 5th, 2017
You may register for the conference at the following email address: info@kommunizmusbunei.hu
The deadline for registration is Tuesday, October 3rd, 2017.
