Self-Definition and Change, The Role of the Cult of the Holy King and Statehood in the Global Space

Abstract

The onset of globalization is rooted mainly in the imperial aspirations that define European culture. The former Hungarian kingdom in the middle of Europe was a dominant power in Central and Eastern Europe until the period of colonization. After that, its strength and greatness were heavily battered by the changes of history. The example of the founder of the state, St. Stephen, played an important role in the survival during the ordeals. His cult was made a national holiday by Maria Theresa in 1771, and after the Compromise of 1867, his memory was important even during the formation of today’s modern – multiethnic – Hungarian state. Then, following the Trianon decision, his spirituality flourished between the two world wars, and his legacy has been cherished more and more vigorously since the regime change. Hungary does not shy away from the challenges of globalization either, but the way of accession is influenced by the leadership’s vision of the future derived from the past. The task is formulated in a self-definition adapted to the situation of change. Hungarian research on the history of memory is a case study of how the values of local communities and localities fit into globality.