The definitive account of solidarity s spectacular rise and tragic fall. The roots of solidarity princeton university press. Curiously, leah hunthendrix omits the most significant usage of solidarity in recent history. The same women then went on to play influential roles in postcommunist poland. But had i picked up the book without that knowledge, as a mere individual off the street, i would be left with many questions, not understanding why martial law occurred in poland, and why the need for solidarity existed. Timothy garton ashs book on the early years of a solidarity movement is a. The origin of the solidarity movement in the collective memory of poles does not. It is a clear and concise introduction to a nation which, often at the epicentre of european political history, has nevertheless sometimes struggled to define its national identity. A modern history presents a vivid and accessible portrait of polands tumultuous history over the past century. Hughs timeline on the history of the solidarity movement. Revolutionary center and radical library is to organize as a nonhierarchical collective for the purpose of sharing and distributing information. The catholic church was the main vehicle for dissent in poland before the emergence of solidarity. Solidarnosc the polish word for solidarity was the name chosen, irony intended, by lech walesa and his colleagues for their independent labor union, which played a key role in puncturing the pretensions of marxism not only in poland but elsewhere in eastern europe to embody worker. Before solidarity, there was the polish church fpif.
Lawrence goodwyn provides a fascinating history of the solidarity movement. America, poland, and the end of the cold war university of. Garton ashs account of the 198081 polish revolution is both a history of the. Anyone have some ideas about books they have enjoyed and learned a lot from. How ronald reagan helped poland overthrow the evil empire. Sadly, these times in polands history have been largely forgotten or ignored whilst the country was under communist rule. It stands as a testament to not only the power of grassrootslead revolutions, but how quickly change can manifest across a nation and finally transcend borders. Although the movement and the trade union were officially christened in 1980, their roots can be traced back some ten years earlier. On 22 september 1980, solidarity, the independent polish trade union. The history of solidarity begins in september 1980, at the gdansk shipyards, where lech walesa and others formed solidarity polish. Documents from the soviet archives demonstrate that the politbiuro closely followed developments in poland, and frequently consulted with and offered advice to polish communist leaders.
While there are several good books on the rs recommended list for eastern europe, im more interested in a readable history of poland. The great workers strike of 1980 tells the story of this pivotal period in polands history from the perspective of those who lived it. Rural solidarity, a polish farmers union, was recognized in may, 1981. Solidarity, polish trade union that in the early 1980s became the first independent labor union in a country belonging to the soviet bloc. Polands recorded history begins in 966 after the baptism of king mieszko i. Poland had a long history of conflict with russia, and a tradition of personal. History books recommended polish history and world. He studied under oscar lange and was editor of langes works, as well as the works of michal kalecki with j. The solidarity movement in poland is arguably one of the most unique and inspiring movements in modern european history. If the aim of the author was to bring poland, its contemporary history and predicament closer to an english speaking reader, he graciously succeeded. Solidarity and the struggle against communism in poland historical. Opinion the rise and fall of solidarity the new york times.
Reagan the cia and the cold war struggle in poland, gives due credit the catholic church, polish solidarity leaders, and ronald reagan for. Solidaritys secret solidaritys secret gives us a richly detailed storywithinastoryunheard of not only in the west, but until recently even within poland itselffrom one. The solidarity movement in poland its history and meaning in collective memory contemporary poland continues to struggle with its economic and sociopolitical adjustments post1989, with communistera monuments and architecture in its historys peripheral view. Resource library this day in geographic history aug 31, 1980 ce. Led by lech walesa, it grew rapidly in size and political power and soon posed a threat to poland s communist government by its sponsorship of labor strikes and other forms of public protest. Solidaritys leaders were arrested and the organization was driven into the underground where it remained until 1989. Books about polish history and world politics our book recommendations. Domber is an associate professor history at the university of north florida and the author of empowering revolution. The birth of solidarity in poland archive 1980 world. Seeing through the eyes of the polish revolution solidarity and. Whilst the history of 20th century poland is well documented, the history of its football is not. This volume pulls together documentation on the polish crisis of 19801981 from a variety of archives in both east and west.
Laba had set himself the ambitious task of documenting the history of polands free trade union. It was obviously the biggest change in the history of poland. This compassionately written history provides readers with a clear understanding of polands complex history from its origins. The evolution of the polish solidarity movement the view. List of books and articles about polish solidarity movement online. Lech walesa helped found the organization in 1980, and he became its influential leader, eventually serving as president of poland. I was able to follow this book easily because i have studied this era of polish history extensively.
The movement eventually gains upwards of 10,000,000 members, one in three working age citizens in poland belong to the union. Led by lech walesa, it grew rapidly in size and political power and soon posed a threat to polands communist government by its sponsorship of labor strikes and other forms of public protest. Between 19801989, solidarity led what has often been described as a 10 year revolution, which ultimately resulted in the collapse of communism in. Located in lawrence, kansas the mission of solidarity. Solidaritys legacy by jan repa bbc europe analyst solidarity brought books and libraries to the polish shipyards. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Poland and its eastern neighbours are pushing the british to the verge of leaving the union. Lech walesa, former president of poland and winner of the 1983 nobel peace prize solidaritys secret is the first book to record the crucial yet littleknown role women played in the rise of an independent press in poland and in the fall of that countrys communist government.
Solidaritys successful use of nonviolent resistance to topple communism has left an indelible mark in the history books. List of books and articles about polish solidarity. A brilliant eyewitness and analyst, timothy garton ash in this book offers a gripping account of the polish shipyard workers who defied their communist rulers in. Solidarity in poland seventeen moments in soviet history.
He held important academic posts in poland and abroad and was the author of many books and articles. The solidarity movement was founded at the gdansk shipyard known then as lenin shipyard by a group of workers striking against rising market pricing and poor pay and working conditions. Some 17,000 workers seized control of the lenin shipyard in gdansk to protest, among other things, a recent rise in food prices. A history of the polish solidarity campaign of great. So please poland, show a little bit more solidarity with ireland by not continually moving here en masse.
The definitive account of solidaritys spectacular rise and tragic fall. The strike that changed the world began around dawn on 14 august 1980. The solidarity movement helped lead to the fall of communism in eastern europe. Solidaritys secret is the first book to record the crucial yet littleknown role women played in the rise of an independent press in poland and in the fall of that countrys communist government.
Only now, as it enters the 21st century, is it a stable democracy with a bright economic and political future. Martial law was in force for the last year of his stay, but even during that time he continued his rescue of the unique historical materials that contribute so much to roots of solidarity. Polands solidarity movement 1980 1989 download pdf version download farsi pdf version by maciej bartkowski december 2009. Sunday 14 august 1980 was a turningpoint in polish history. Born as an aftermath of the 1968 student rebellions in europe, solidarity was unprepared to assume power and authority, says ost political science, hobart and william smith colls.
The birth of solidarity in poland archive 1980 world news the. Independent selfgoverning trade union solidarity niezalezny samorzadny zwiazek zawodowy solidarnosc. Ash managed to write a successful and relatively comprehensive account of the birth of polands free trade union almost as the process was going on, when reliable sources were difficult to come by, and as the official state channels attempted to. I doubt the polish people would be delighted at such a huge influx of people into their own country. The first 100 years of polish football, ryan hubbard attempts to show that, however separate the subjects may seem, an inextricable and often fascinating link between the two has always existed. In this book, the individuals who shaped history speak with their own voices about the strike that. The changes sparked by the solidarity movement in poland are often characterized as a telerevolution. Solidarity, polish independent trade union federation formed in sept. Poland never had such a good period in its history since the 16th century. It began with the sacking of a crane driver called anna walentynowicz and would end up. Ash provides a detailed historical account of the polish resistance movement of. The success of polands solidarity movement to combat and rid the nation of its communist rule is a pivotal moment in world history.
A concise history of poland jerzy lukowski and hubert zawadzki. Tadeusz kowalik 19262012 was an economist, public intellectual, and political activist. Solidarity and the struggle against communism in poland. Polish history the evolution of the polish solidarity. The solidarity movement emerged out of a much longer history of worker discontent, strikes and protest that had characterised tensions between the state and society in communist poland since the end of wwii. The story of solidarity is a more complicated one than most foreign visitors will be aware of. In the early 1980s, it became the first independent labor union in a sovietbloc country. Solidarity had its roots in the worker unrest of december 1970 in polands northern cities, but the movement that emerged in the summer of 1980 was incomparably larger and drew from all segments.
Solidarity memorabilia, on display at the roads to freedom exhibition in gdansk. Poland is a land whose boundaries and people have been divided and redivided by conquering nations throughout its long and tumultuous history. Courtesy of the archiwum dokumentacji mechanicznej, warsaw. Solidarity advocated nonviolence in its members activities. The months between august 1980 when the solidarity trade union was founded and december 1981 when polish authorities declared martial law and crushed the nationwide opposition movement that had grown up around the union represent a pivotal. Lech walesa, labor activist who helped form and led 198090 polands first independent trade union, solidarity, and later was president of the country 199095. A good history of poland for the layperson rick steves. Discover librarianselected research resources on polish solidarity movement from the questia online library, including fulltext online books. Solidarity in poland on august 31, 1980, the trade union solidarity was founded at the lenin shipyards in gdansk, poland. The women who defeated communism in poland by shana penn the university of michigan press. Nonviolent struggle against the authoritarian communist government in poland began soon after the communists stole parliamentary elections in 1946. Solidarnosc, a broad anticommunist social movement ranging from people associated with the catholic church to members of the anticommunist left. Europejskie centrum solidarnosci is a museum and library in gdansk, poland, devoted to the history of solidarity, the polish trade union and civil resistance movement, and other opposition movements of communist eastern europe. Timothy garton ashs book on the early years of a solidarity movement is a striking blend of history and journalism.
866 1274 341 959 56 1596 979 582 955 884 1401 1428 333 1320 1104 713 34 769 785 548 1313 766 1219 88 940 829 1267 767 582 1283 280 1094 585 707 107 178 1004 626 175 862 1110 70 794 755 199 622 248 1272 789