The Hungarian Revolution of 1956: Dissent and the Cracks in Soviet Power

This paper seeks to deliver a sophisticated examination of the complex 1956 Hungarian Revolt and regards the uprising as a  critical turning point in Cold War history. It outlines its causes, course, and lasting repercussions through a cross-historical perspective, with special reference to Khrushchev's “Secret Speech” at the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1956. The research places the revolt within the wider struggle for Hungarian autonomy while also establishing parallels with the 1848–49 revolution and Russian interventions in Central Europe. Central themes encompass the boundaries of Soviet authority, the function of intellectuals in instigating dissent, and the emblematic significance of national defiance. Close attention is given to how the revolution affected the intelligentsia both within the Eastern Bloc and the Western left-orientated intellectuals. To analyse these dynamics, the paper employs a multi-method approach, including comparative historical analysis, archival and document-based research, discourse analysis and intellectual history.