Függetlenedés

Függetlenedés is the Hungarian word for independence or gaining independence. It most commonly refers to the process and historical event of a nation or territory separating from a larger political entity and establishing itself as a sovereign state. This can occur through various means, including political negotiation, revolution, or peaceful secession. The concept of függetlenedés is deeply ingrained in Hungarian national identity and history, particularly in relation to the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the subsequent periods of foreign occupation.

Historically, significant moments of függetlenedés for Hungary include the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, which granted Hungary a large degree of autonomy within the dual monarchy, and the declarations of independence following World War I and World War II. The post-World War II period saw Hungary fall under Soviet influence, and the 1956 Hungarian Revolution was a major, albeit ultimately unsuccessful, attempt at függetlenedés from Soviet domination. The final attainment of full sovereignty is often linked to the collapse of communist regimes in Eastern Europe in 1989-1990, marking a definitive függetlenedés from external political control. The term can also be applied more broadly to the independence of individuals or smaller entities, but its primary association is with national sovereignty.