ABSTRACT
This chapter summarises the development of the power sector in Hungary after the break-down of the central planning system. The outcome of the 'market' reforms in this field lead to a result which is far from optimal in a market economic sense. The chapter aims to demonstrate how each of the agents in the process takes in some of the contrasting elements of the market economic principles. It discusses how the restructuring of Hungary's power sector is largely driven by three discourses with very little interference, but with a shared reference in the modernisation and market orientation of the sector. These are: the privatisation discourse; technical modernisation; environmental modernisation. The chapter identifies a development trend in the reform of Hungary's electricity sector. It looks at the transition discourse shows a deep influence from Modern concepts in the larger sense, and it is worthwhile to enquire into the modernisation debate.
