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THE ROLE OF THE HUNGARIAN GOVERNMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF PERIPHERIES IN THE AUSTROHUNGARIAN MONARCHY FOCUSING THE POLICY OF THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULURE (1897-1914) ——o> — PETRA BALATON ABSTRACT The necessity of the economic, cultural and social development of the peripheries was recognized by the Hungarian public at the end of the 19% century due to the mass emigration of the inhabitants seeking employment abroad. Daränyi Igndc, Minister of Agriculture (between 1895-1903 and 1906-1910), launched a uniform and comprehensive economic development programme, the so called “folk aid actions” within the framework of the gradually established branch office system. These turned into intermediary level specialized offices serving for the completion of the agricultural organizational tasks in the areas of Subcarpathia, Upper Hungary, Székely Land and Transylvania (1897-1914). Concurrently the goal of the assessment was to introduce the underlying responsibility of the government in raising the underdeveloped, deficient areas mainly to be found in the peripheries, and to find what kind of means and assistance could be offered by the government in advancing the regions. Keywords: development of peripheries, Ministry of Agriculture, system of branch offices, regional economic actions, “folk aid actions”, aid and support policy After the declaration of 1867, Hungary during the Austro-Hungarian assimilation process underwent huge economic and social development. However, the general upturn did not characterise the whole territory and population of the country evenly. Especially the areas characterised by ° 241
