Antalffy György: Basic problems of state and society (Budapest, 1974)
Basic problems of state and society by GYÖRGY ANTALFFY Professor Antalffy’s book is an important contribution to the literature — otherwise not very large - on Marxist theory of State. Its approach to known and] new issues is remarkable not only for the wide field it covers but also on account of some of its novel ideas. Pre-Marx doctrines on State and the views ofpolitical thinkers are lucidly exposed so as to enable the reader to grasp both the historical course and the revolutionary new in thought. A clear and balanced discussion is devoted to the State as a social phenomenon and its realitymoulding role. The author deals with the necessity of forming and applying value judgements also in this domain. He is concerned not only with sovereignty in general, its functions and forms of appearance but particularly with the socialist State’s sovereignty and the relation between sovereignty and democracy. In so doing, he gives prominence to the sociological aspect. The work is a useful reading not only for theoreticians of State and law but also for historians, sociologists and students of politics. AKADÉMIAI KIADÓ Publishing House of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences Budapest