Abstract

In November 1981 two unusual suggestions were put forward at the Budapest Parliament of Students. The first was to organize an independent peace demonstration. At the time, this caused less controversy than a second initiative: an attempt to gain independent student-representation. As to the latter, it soon became obvious that it was half-hearted and lacked the strength to break away from the round of officially organized discussions. At that time no one could predict that the other idea that of the demonstration would later lead to the setting up of the first independent youth movement. The sponsors of the original initiative had not dared to propose this even as a future step.