Political Struggle over Public Space. Renaming of Streets in Budapest, 1945-1989-2011

"There is no continuity for age-long street names in Hungary." The repeated renaming of street names since the 19th century confirms this remark of the linguist Magda T. Somogyi. More and more, the political players realized the identity-generating role of public space and used its symbolic power. The renaming of streets was often linked with fundamental political changes and marked the beginning of a new symbolic politics. The paper focuses on the manifestation of politics of history in the political praxis of renaming streets in Budapest since 1945. A particular focus is set on the public controversies which were related to the governmental decision 2011 to change all street names which were linked with one of the dictatorial regimes of the 20th century and which resulted in a deluge of street renamings to an extent hitherto unknown.