Dilemmas and bargains

a Case Study

Abstract

In the years after 2019, civil organizations and informal communities in Hungary have faced numerous extreme challenges. The pandemic, war, energy crisis, and domestic political shifts have intensified the isolation of already fragmented communities, contributing to the disengagement and regression of individuals and groups from public life. This case study illustrates the adaptation and coping strategies employed by an informal group engaged in environmental advocacy in a county seat in Eastern Hungary during its first five years of voluntary grassroots activities. The case study focuses on an informal group formed in an Eastern Hungarian County seat dedicated to green advocacy and raising environmental awareness. It examines the group’s activities and operations through how tensions with local politics shaped their internal processes, communication, and decision-making. The analysis highlights their grassroots organizing efforts, integration into the local community, activities before and after municipal elections, and organizational changes over time. I have observed the group’s work since its inception. The power dynamics evident in the relationship between the local government and the organization piqued my interest. My research allowed me to explore the individual dilemmas of group members, the flow of information along their relational networks, and the differences in their operations before and after elections. I believe these observations provide a compelling snapshot of current Hungarian social processes. This study is a participatory observation-based case study.