🇪🇺European History – 1945 to Present Unit 17 – The Rise of Solidarity in Poland

Historical Context

• Poland under communist rule following World War II as part of the Soviet-dominated Eastern Bloc
• Widespread discontent with the communist government due to economic hardships, political repression, and lack of civil liberties
• Labor unrest and strikes in the 1970s, particularly in Gdańsk and other coastal cities, laid the groundwork for future opposition movements
• The election of Cardinal Karol Wojtyła as Pope John Paul II in 1978 bolstered the Polish Catholic Church and inspired anti-communist sentiment
• Intellectual dissent and underground publishing networks (samizdat) challenged the government's monopoly on information and ideas
• Economic crisis in the late 1970s and early 1980s, including food shortages and rising prices, fueled popular discontent
• The government's attempts to raise food prices in 1980 sparked a wave of strikes and protests across the country

Key Players and Organizations

• Lech Wałęsa, an electrician at the Lenin Shipyard in Gdańsk, emerged as a charismatic leader of the striking workers
  • Wałęsa's leadership skills and ability to unite workers from various industries were crucial to the success of Solidarity
• Anna Walentynowicz, a crane operator at the Lenin Shipyard, whose firing in August 1980 sparked the initial strikes
• Jacek Kuroń and Adam Michnik, prominent intellectuals and advisors to the striking workers
  • Kuroń and Michnik helped shape the ideological foundations of Solidarity and advocated for non-violent resistance
• The Polish Catholic Church, led by Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński and Pope John Paul II, provided moral support and a sanctuary for opposition activities
• The Soviet Union, which viewed Solidarity as a threat to its control over the Eastern Bloc and pressured the Polish government to suppress the movement
• The United States, under President Ronald Reagan, supported Solidarity through diplomatic pressure and economic sanctions against the Polish government

Major Events and Milestones

• The Gdańsk Agreement, signed on August 31, 1980, ended the strikes and granted workers the right to form independent trade unions
  • The agreement also included provisions for greater freedom of speech, the release of political prisoners, and economic reforms
• The formation of Solidarity (Solidarność) as the first independent trade union in the Soviet Bloc in September 1980
  • Solidarity quickly grew to over 10 million members, representing workers from various industries and regions
• The First National Congress of Solidarity in September-October 1981, which outlined the union's goals and strategies
• The imposition of martial law by General Wojciech Jaruzelski on December 13, 1981, in an attempt to crush Solidarity
  • Thousands of Solidarity activists, including Lech Wałęsa, were arrested and imprisoned
• The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Lech Wałęsa in 1983, which brought international attention to the struggle of Solidarity
• The Round Table Talks between Solidarity and the government in early 1989, which led to semi-free elections and the formation of the first non-communist government in the Eastern Bloc

Ideological Foundations

• Non-violent resistance and civil disobedience, inspired by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.
• Solidarity's commitment to truth, dignity, and human rights, as expressed in its slogan "There is no freedom without Solidarity"
• The concept of "self-limiting revolution," which emphasized gradual change and compromise rather than violent overthrow of the government
• The influence of Catholic social teaching, particularly the ideas of human dignity, subsidiarity, and the common good
  • Pope John Paul II's emphasis on the "Gospel of Work" and the dignity of labor resonated with Solidarity's goals
• The rejection of Marxist-Leninist ideology and the centrally planned economy in favor of democratic socialism and market reforms
• The belief in the power of civil society and the importance of creating alternative institutions and networks outside of state control

Strategies and Tactics

• Strikes and work stoppages, particularly in key industries such as shipbuilding, mining, and transportation
  • The use of sit-in strikes, where workers occupied their workplaces, made it difficult for the government to suppress the movement
• The creation of underground press and publishing networks to disseminate information and ideas
  • Solidarity's weekly newspaper, Tygodnik Solidarność, had a circulation of over 500,000 copies at its peak
• The use of symbols and imagery, such as the Solidarity logo (a stylized red letter "S") and the Polish flag with a black mourning ribbon, to create a sense of unity and shared purpose
• The organization of mass demonstrations and protests, such as the "March of Solidarity" in Warsaw in October 1980, which attracted over 100,000 participants
• The formation of local Solidarity chapters and inter-factory strike committees to coordinate actions and share resources
• The use of international media and diplomatic channels to gain support and pressure the Polish government
  • Solidarity's leaders, particularly Lech Wałęsa, became global icons of the struggle for freedom and democracy

International Reactions

• The Soviet Union viewed Solidarity as a threat to its control over the Eastern Bloc and pressured the Polish government to suppress the movement
  • The Soviet leadership, particularly Leonid Brezhnev, feared that the "Polish virus" of independent trade unions could spread to other communist countries
• The United States, under President Ronald Reagan, supported Solidarity through diplomatic pressure and economic sanctions against the Polish government
  • Reagan's administration provided covert financial assistance to Solidarity and other opposition groups through the CIA
• Western European countries, particularly France and West Germany, expressed solidarity with the Polish workers and provided humanitarian aid
  • The French trade union federation, CFDT, organized a campaign to send food and medical supplies to Poland
• The Catholic Church, led by Pope John Paul II, played a crucial role in supporting Solidarity and mediating between the union and the government
  • The Pope's visits to Poland in 1979 and 1983 bolstered the morale of Solidarity activists and challenged the legitimacy of the communist regime
• International labor organizations, such as the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), provided financial and logistical support to Solidarity
• The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Lech Wałęsa in 1983 brought international attention to the struggle of Solidarity and increased pressure on the Polish government to negotiate with the opposition

Impact on Polish Society

• Solidarity's success in forcing the government to recognize independent trade unions and grant greater civil liberties transformed Polish society
  • The Gdańsk Agreement and the formation of Solidarity marked a turning point in Polish history and paved the way for the eventual collapse of communism
• The experience of mass mobilization and collective action empowered ordinary Poles and fostered a sense of civic engagement and responsibility
  • Solidarity's activities, such as the organization of free elections within the union, served as a "school of democracy" for millions of Poles
• The emergence of a vibrant civil society, with independent organizations, clubs, and associations, challenged the state's monopoly on public life
  • Solidarity's example inspired the creation of other opposition groups, such as the Freedom and Peace movement and the Orange Alternative
• The economic reforms demanded by Solidarity, including the decentralization of decision-making and the introduction of market mechanisms, laid the groundwork for Poland's transition to a market economy in the 1990s
• The exposure of the government's corruption and inefficiency undermined the legitimacy of the communist system and eroded public trust in state institutions
• The strengthening of national identity and pride, as Poles rallied around Solidarity as a symbol of their struggle for freedom and self-determination

Legacy and Long-Term Consequences

• Solidarity's success in forcing the communist government to negotiate and grant concessions inspired opposition movements in other Eastern Bloc countries
  • The "Solidarity effect" contributed to the wave of peaceful revolutions that swept across Central and Eastern Europe in 1989, leading to the collapse of communism
• The Round Table Talks between Solidarity and the government in early 1989 set a precedent for negotiated transitions to democracy in the region
  • The model of "roundtable negotiations" was later adopted in other countries, such as Czechoslovakia and Hungary
• The election of Solidarity activists, including Lech Wałęsa, to key government positions in the 1990s shaped Poland's post-communist transition
  • Wałęsa served as President of Poland from 1990 to 1995 and oversaw the country's economic and political reforms
• The experience of Solidarity influenced the development of civil society and democratic institutions in Poland and other post-communist countries
  • Many former Solidarity activists went on to form political parties, NGOs, and media outlets that continue to shape public discourse and policy
• The legacy of Solidarity as a symbol of non-violent resistance and the power of collective action continues to inspire social movements and pro-democracy activists around the world
  • The Solidarity logo and the slogan "There is no freedom without Solidarity" have been adopted by various groups, from the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa to the Euromaidan protests in Ukraine
• The tensions and divisions within Solidarity, particularly between the pragmatic and radical factions, foreshadowed the challenges and contradictions of Poland's post-communist transition
  • The economic hardships and social inequalities that accompanied the market reforms of the 1990s led to disillusionment among some former Solidarity supporters