Hungarian Documents of the Velvet Revolution

This study presents and analyzes the first declarations and programs of the Hungarian organizations of the 1989 Revolution in Slovakia. The analysis extends to the first half of 1990. The examination is based on two methodological aspects. One is the change of regime, that is, the consideration of the objectives and values that were aimed at overthrowing the former dictatorship and introducing a new constitutional democracy characteristic for the Western world. The other aspect is the improvement of the situation of Hungarians in Slovakia, i.e. the formulation of their specific rights and other national needs, and the way how to achieve these goals. Of course, the text raises the issue of combining these two aspects. The study is primarily based on contemporary documents, but it also reflects the aspects of academic literature on the subject.