Solidarity Research Paper
`Solidarity and its effect on the fall of European Communist Regimes The rise of the Polish Solidarity Trade Union in the 1980’s was historically significant because of its continued persistency for social change. Solidarity’s ability to develop and persevere through years of political oppression led to substantial changes within the Polish Government and its influence led to the eventual collapse of Eastern European Communist regimes. Although Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and East Germany would receive more attention and recognition for their roles in the demise of communism, Poland with its labor and inflation problems throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s would be the catalyst that ignites the movement towards democracy throughout Eastern Europe
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including the former Soviet Union.
Solidarity’s roots can be traced from its meager beginnings escalating from the ashes of Polish labor strikes of 1970 and 1976 to its origins as a trade union in the Lenin Shipyards of Gdansk in 1980. The Solidarity Trade Union, at its highest point of popularity, would include almost 10 million Polish citizens, about one quarter of the total Polish population. Solidarity would rise from the first non-communist independent trade union to becoming a full-fledged political party that would take all but one seat in the Polish Parliament during the election of 1989. In 1990, the leader of the Solidarity Party, Lech Walesa would become the first freely elected president of Poland since the Communist Party took control of the government in 1947.
Poland experienced many social and economic issues in the 1970’s, continuing on through the 1980’s. From the shipyard strike of 1970, in which over 200 people were killed, to the work stoppages of 1980 that would eventually spread across the nation, the Polish Government continuously raised prices on basic domestic commodities while lowering worker wage. This was partially because of Poland’s acquisition of investment from western banks which ran in direct contradiction to the communist principle. John Dornberg, in his book Central and Eastern Europe, stated that the Polish Government “launched a campaign of crash modernization and industrialization, but did it all with borrowed money from Western governments and banks” (103). These economic policies would trigger social unrest and bring about the organizing of the Solidarity Trade Union, the first legalized non-communist trade union within the Eastern Bloc.
Because the union was moving towards becoming more of a political party, it was seen as a threat to the Communist government.
Not long after Solidarity was recognized by the government, the new Prime Minister General Wojciech Jaruzelski citing possible intervention and invasion by the Soviet Union, declared martial law in 1981and banned all labor unions including Solidarity, while imprisoning most of its leader. Although the crackdown of the labor movement only lasted 18 months, the banning of Solidarity would remain until 1989, forcing it to exist underground. After more worker strikes in 1988, members of the communist government requested Lech Walesa and other Solidarity leaders to participate in what is known as the “Round Table Talks.” The outcome of these meetings resulted in the legalization of labor parties, the existence of plural political parties, and the agreement to hold general elections. As the new Polish Government formed, others nations within the Warsaw Pact took notice of Poland’s changes and began the immersions of their own revolutions by their citizens and also from inside their governments. Beginning with Hungary and Czechoslovakia, reforms within their governments both economic and political would continue to follow Poland’s leading example. Within weeks of the changes within their governments, other Eastern Bloc countries, and most notable: East Germany would begin policies of openness and …show more content…
change.
It is common belief among some historians and media that the for the fall of Eastern European communism has been related to the appointment of Mikhail Gorbachev as General Secretary of the Soviet Union and continuous pressure from the United States under the leadership of Ronald Reagan.
According to Janusz Ziolkowski in Spring in Winter, “to read the press, or to hear some western leaders talk, you would think that history began with Gorbachev. His role is undeniable- Glasnost, Perestroika, the acceptance of the principle that each member of the Warsaw Pact is free to arrange its own internal affairs” (47). After years of hard line communist leaders, the Soviet Union itself felt the need for more economic and social reforms. Shortly after coming to power in March of 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev and his government began to implement the policies of Glasnost (Openness) and Perestroika (Restructuring). Glasnost allowed for more freedom of speech and the press, which initiated and ultimately led to the rise of opposition and criticism of the Communist Government. With Perestroika and its programs of political and economic reform, Gorbachev directed the Soviet political structure and its economy towards democratization and free market capitalism. These policies also led to more openness towards the Soviet Bloc countries of Eastern Europe as well as the increase of Nationalism within its own
borders.
In the past, such as the Hungarian Uprising of 1956 and the Czechoslovakian Prague Spring of 1968, the Soviet Union would send troops to crush any form of counter-revolutionary activity within countries of the Soviet Bloc. According to the Brezhnev Doctrine, the Soviets had the right to enter these countries when their governments are confronted with opposition and to put down any form of resistance. In 1989, the Soviet Union would discontinue this policy and allow any of its former Communist Bloc allies to choose its own destiny.
Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, ran his campaign and later his presidency on the fear of Soviet dominance and the spread of communism throughout the world. During his first term in office, Reagan would push for the United States to increase defense spending in an arms race with the Soviet Union. As the buildup of weaponry between the two Superpowers continued, it would become a large economic burden for the Soviet Union leading to shortages and unavailability of basic domestic commodities. This situation, coupled with Gorbachev’s Glasnost policies led to much social unrest within the Soviet Union, however the Reagan Administration receives far too much credit for the upheaval within the governments of Eastern Europe. This misconception continues to exist within western society.
While changes of the Soviet Union’s policies towards its communist neighbors obviously contributed to the freedoms experienced by former Eastern Bloc countries, without Solidarity’s continuance to persevere throughout its existence and its leadership, the sweeping changes within these governments may have resulted in possible violent outcomes or may have not occurred at all. Robin Okey indicated in his book, The Demise of Communist Europe, “the advantage of hindsight shows that Solidarity did have a wider relevance and the Polish experience showed its potential dangers” (34). As time passes and as more information is discovered and researched, history will show how one trade union from the town of Gdansk brought about changes within the Polish society that would eventually spread to its neighbors and bring freedom that had not existed for many decades.
including the former Soviet Union.
Solidarity’s roots can be traced from its meager beginnings escalating from the ashes of Polish labor strikes of 1970 and 1976 to its origins as a trade union in the Lenin Shipyards of Gdansk in 1980. The Solidarity Trade Union, at its highest point of popularity, would include almost 10 million Polish citizens, about one quarter of the total Polish population. Solidarity would rise from the first non-communist independent trade union to becoming a full-fledged political party that would take all but one seat in the Polish Parliament during the election of 1989. In 1990, the leader of the Solidarity Party, Lech Walesa would become the first freely elected president of Poland since the Communist Party took control of the government in 1947.
Poland experienced many social and economic issues in the 1970’s, continuing on through the 1980’s. From the shipyard strike of 1970, in which over 200 people were killed, to the work stoppages of 1980 that would eventually spread across the nation, the Polish Government continuously raised prices on basic domestic commodities while lowering worker wage. This was partially because of Poland’s acquisition of investment from western banks which ran in direct contradiction to the communist principle. John Dornberg, in his book Central and Eastern Europe, stated that the Polish Government “launched a campaign of crash modernization and industrialization, but did it all with borrowed money from Western governments and banks” (103). These economic policies would trigger social unrest and bring about the organizing of the Solidarity Trade Union, the first legalized non-communist trade union within the Eastern Bloc.
Because the union was moving towards becoming more of a political party, it was seen as a threat to the Communist government.
Not long after Solidarity was recognized by the government, the new Prime Minister General Wojciech Jaruzelski citing possible intervention and invasion by the Soviet Union, declared martial law in 1981and banned all labor unions including Solidarity, while imprisoning most of its leader. Although the crackdown of the labor movement only lasted 18 months, the banning of Solidarity would remain until 1989, forcing it to exist underground. After more worker strikes in 1988, members of the communist government requested Lech Walesa and other Solidarity leaders to participate in what is known as the “Round Table Talks.” The outcome of these meetings resulted in the legalization of labor parties, the existence of plural political parties, and the agreement to hold general elections. As the new Polish Government formed, others nations within the Warsaw Pact took notice of Poland’s changes and began the immersions of their own revolutions by their citizens and also from inside their governments. Beginning with Hungary and Czechoslovakia, reforms within their governments both economic and political would continue to follow Poland’s leading example. Within weeks of the changes within their governments, other Eastern Bloc countries, and most notable: East Germany would begin policies of openness and …show more content…
change.
It is common belief among some historians and media that the for the fall of Eastern European communism has been related to the appointment of Mikhail Gorbachev as General Secretary of the Soviet Union and continuous pressure from the United States under the leadership of Ronald Reagan.
According to Janusz Ziolkowski in Spring in Winter, “to read the press, or to hear some western leaders talk, you would think that history began with Gorbachev. His role is undeniable- Glasnost, Perestroika, the acceptance of the principle that each member of the Warsaw Pact is free to arrange its own internal affairs” (47). After years of hard line communist leaders, the Soviet Union itself felt the need for more economic and social reforms. Shortly after coming to power in March of 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev and his government began to implement the policies of Glasnost (Openness) and Perestroika (Restructuring). Glasnost allowed for more freedom of speech and the press, which initiated and ultimately led to the rise of opposition and criticism of the Communist Government. With Perestroika and its programs of political and economic reform, Gorbachev directed the Soviet political structure and its economy towards democratization and free market capitalism. These policies also led to more openness towards the Soviet Bloc countries of Eastern Europe as well as the increase of Nationalism within its own
borders.
In the past, such as the Hungarian Uprising of 1956 and the Czechoslovakian Prague Spring of 1968, the Soviet Union would send troops to crush any form of counter-revolutionary activity within countries of the Soviet Bloc. According to the Brezhnev Doctrine, the Soviets had the right to enter these countries when their governments are confronted with opposition and to put down any form of resistance. In 1989, the Soviet Union would discontinue this policy and allow any of its former Communist Bloc allies to choose its own destiny.
Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, ran his campaign and later his presidency on the fear of Soviet dominance and the spread of communism throughout the world. During his first term in office, Reagan would push for the United States to increase defense spending in an arms race with the Soviet Union. As the buildup of weaponry between the two Superpowers continued, it would become a large economic burden for the Soviet Union leading to shortages and unavailability of basic domestic commodities. This situation, coupled with Gorbachev’s Glasnost policies led to much social unrest within the Soviet Union, however the Reagan Administration receives far too much credit for the upheaval within the governments of Eastern Europe. This misconception continues to exist within western society.
While changes of the Soviet Union’s policies towards its communist neighbors obviously contributed to the freedoms experienced by former Eastern Bloc countries, without Solidarity’s continuance to persevere throughout its existence and its leadership, the sweeping changes within these governments may have resulted in possible violent outcomes or may have not occurred at all. Robin Okey indicated in his book, The Demise of Communist Europe, “the advantage of hindsight shows that Solidarity did have a wider relevance and the Polish experience showed its potential dangers” (34). As time passes and as more information is discovered and researched, history will show how one trade union from the town of Gdansk brought about changes within the Polish society that would eventually spread to its neighbors and bring freedom that had not existed for many decades.