Transitions to democracy: Spain and Hungar

This thesis analyzes and compares the transition to democracy in Spain and Hungary and examines the stability of the new democratic government in Hungary. Each country will be examined with respect to four areas. These areas will include major historical, economic, intellectual and international factors that led to the political development. These perspectives develop the role played by the legacy of previous democractic experience, the impact of economic changes, the role of intellectuals and ideas in the transition, and the effect of external world events.;The obstacles to such a comparison in the past have been the contentions that a totalitarian regime (Hungary) and an authoritarian regime (Spain) should not be compared. The final analysis suggests that Hungary had reached a stage of post-totalitarian development and therefore was closer in form to an authoritarian regime.