State Description without State

This study examines the reception of state sciences in eighteenth-century Hungary. It argues that genres historical topography and political geography had a substantial role both adaptation description (Staatsbeschreibung) initiating conflict between various visions, based on reappraisal historical, legal arguments dualist structure one hand, natural law-based conceptualisation composite (Gesamtstaat) good administration (Gute Polizey), other. The essay claims this opposing conceptualizations also contributed to laying intellectual foundations for diverse Catholic Protestant interpretations, developed throughout eighteenth century. article comes conclusion until late century two main competitive lines fundamentally shaped sociocultural contexts knowledge state. In approach method, however, these interpretations different answers challenge represented by statistical knowledge. While history appeared less effective against account, statisticians found fierce competitors protagonists geography.