ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the Hungary's post-socialist attempts to create new spatial structures of governance. The establishment of Hungarian regions, one of the Hungary's first assignments in 'Europeanizing' its political system was heavily influenced by EU regional development policies. As a new member of the European Union, Hungary has undertaken serious efforts to adjust its institutional system to the EU's requirements. Europeanization, the convergence observed in the political systems of EU member states, is actively driven by regional policy. In Hungary, the appearance of new intersectoral and semi-public or quasi-autonomous organizations has created uncertainty about the true division of public power among the various branches and levels of government, as well as about the geographical distribution of power within states. The Hungarian government has opted to create a four-tier system of governance in the specific area of regional development; national, regional, county-level and so-called micro-regional bodies are linked in a hierarchical structure.
