Repatriating Polanyi

Karl Polanyi's critique of market society is examined through the lens of contemporary economic anthropology, particularly in Central Europe, where he was raised. The book explores the implications of his ideas on the communist period, focusing on the "market socialist" economy of János Kádár's Hungary, and the subsequent changes in property relations, civil society, and ethno-national identities after communism. This analysis highlights the relevance of Polanyi's work in understanding the complexities of neoliberal globalization and its impact on the region.