Political Jokes as a Form of Dissent during the Hungarian Regime Change, 1988–1994

Abstract: This article traces the transformation of joke culture in Budapest between 1988 and 1994 by exploring the continuities and discontinuities surrounding the regime change within the wider framework of dissent. Even though political jokes could function as a means of cultural resistance under socialism, humour rather created trust and solidarity between joke-tellers and their audiences. The study demonstrates that humour did not disappear from Hungarian society after 1989/90. By highlighting the social and psychological complexities of humour in ethnographer Imre Katona's collection of political jokes, this study provides insights into what political jokes could reveal about trust and the perceived legitimacy of political actors across the 1989 divide.