Liberty, Equality, and Nationality: National Liberalism, Modernization, and Empire in Hungary in the Nineteenth Century

Abstract

In the nineteenth century, Hungarian liberals' orientations were mixed: some favored political and philosophical goals, while others were anchored to more practical matters. Although ideas of the Enlightenment and the French Revolution deeply penetrated the thinking of Hungarian intellectuals, societal progress was slow and long in the making. Concerned liberals agreed that modernization was the most important thing for Hungary; many, however, supported the status quo of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and saw the development of Hungarian society within its imperial realm. In one respect they all agreed: the importance of Hungarian national interests and superiority of the Magyar nation within the context of the Habsburg Empire, an aspect that sets Hungarian liberalism somewhat apart from other European liberal traditions. Therefore, two fundamental questions remain to be answered in this respect: what kind of liberalism were Hungarian elites considering, and how did it actually translate into practice?