An attempted synthesis. On the social structure of Ferenc Erdeis Peasants

The study examines the approach towards society of one of the most significant works of the Hungarian social scientific thinking entitled 'Peasants', and tries to find answers to the following question: To what extent did Erdei succeed in describing the peculiarities of the peasantry and the peasant society in his comprehensive work? Having analysed the aspects of society and the notion of peasantry, Erdei's typology on the peasantry in the great European regions does not seem to reflect the features in this region. The study points out that Erdei combined the peculiarities of social development in Hungary with the features of peasantry independent from regions. It is pointed out throughout the examination of the texts that Erdei's viewpoint on the development of the Hungarian society and the peasantry needs to be criticized. The study concludes that the failure of Erdei's synthesis can be explained by his political inclination, that is, the programme of social reform based on the peasantry.