The aim of this thesis is to found out which fundamental structural factors started the liberalisation processes in Hungary and Poland. Secondly see how these transitions were done and which actors played a part in them. Lastly look at why these processes differs. The theories I have used in my study focus on structural factors and the four actors, who can be involved in the transition. The actors within the regime are the hardliners and the softliners and among opposition they are the moderates and the radicals.

I found out in my study that the fundamental structure, which started the process in Hungary, was the political legitimacy. This was a problem due to the Hungarians had two alternative choices how to govern the state within the party. Therefore the reforms done by Kádár were aimed to collect support among the citizens for his policy. The key actors in the process were hardliners and softliners.

The fundamental structural factors in Poland were the economic factor and the mobilisation of the opposition and lastly the external actors. They intervened with each other and forced the party to start a liberalisation. The key actors in this process were the softliners and the moderate represented by Solidarity.

The reason why the process differs is that the party in Hungary by itself drove the liberalisation forward. Continuously hardliners were replaced by softliners. Therefore the government and the party never had to invite the opposition. In Poland the situation differed. The softliners within the regime needed the moderate opposition to be able to start with the necessary economic reforms. Economic reforms without them would have caused social disruption.

Keywords: Hungary and Poland, transition, liberalisation, structural factors, hardliners and softliners, Solidarity