ABSTRACT
Pre-War rural Hungary was overloaded with, rather than deficient in, categorizations in terms of class, stratum, wealth, religion and locality of origin. Rigid categorizations, however, not only divided the community, but also ordered relations within groups and, perhaps more importantly, allowed clear self-classification. Informal associations based on self-selected membership were numerous in pre-War rural communities in Hungary, integrating horizontally all members of the community. Life in the community is such that it discourages the generation of informal voluntary groups. The farming community had a variety of common affairs which were managed jointly, for example, in relation to the vineyards. In Pecsely for instance, there were two teachers, one Catholic and one Protestant, in the 1930s to the 1950s, who were, on the basis of accounts, exceptional personalities who contributed greatly to the community over several decades. Teachers no longer activate after school hours social and cultural events or, they are merely fulfilling part of an educational programme imposed on them.
