Nothing but good. Narratives about women's relationships with politics

Abstract

The present study examines the relationship between law and politics, as well as the connections between legality and legitimacy, in light of two women’s life stories, linking them to one of the key themes in Ágnes Zsidai’s work. According to Zsidai’s analysis, the social role of law has undergone a significant transformation in Hungary's recent past. The political power of the totalitarian regime was completely subordinated to its own ends, and the political pragmatism that followed 1956 created opportunities for the development of relative autonomy of law. This change not only transformed law into a tool for legitimising the system, but also contributed to the limitation of power and played a role in enabling a peaceful transition. The objective of this study is to apply this line of thought to contemporary conditions, with particular regard to how the dynamics between law and politics manifest themselves in the present day. This examination is expanded upon by a third perspective, which acknowledges that the society that provides legitimacy is not a unified bloc, but rather consists of diverse individuals and groups. It is evident that divergent social positions, whether representing the majority or minority, articulate disparate expectations and interpretations of representation. These expectations and interpretations manifest in various forms, including thematic, symbolic, and actual presence in the political arena. The research is grounded in the analysis of two women’s narrative life history interviews, and it examines the ideas and interpretations that exist in contemporary Hungarian society regarding the political representation of women’s issues and women's participation in public life.