Karl Polanyi in Vienna

Polanyi declared culture and society must displace the economy from being the center of human concern. From this starting point, Part One examines the collapse and disarray in the territories of the Russian Federation of today and the different ways in which Eastern European societies have tried to solve common socio-economic problems. The discussion then goes on to explore the broad notion of citizenship taking shape in the world economy.

Part Two looks at the life and work of Ilona Duczynska-Polanyi, at her political activism, and at her life with Karl in Vienna during 1920-1933. Based on published articles and unpublished notes and correspondence, and on interviews, the passages presented here, while chiefly memories of the Polanyi household, do describe the genesis and development of aspects of Karl Polanyi's thinking during this period as well.