Transition from dictatorship to democracy: Poland 

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Transition from dictatorship to democracy: Poland 

Transition from a socialist to a democratic system 

Poland

1956

First protests against the Communist regime

• This was  after Khrushchev came in power and he criticized Stalin.
• Demonstrations protesting against increased food prices and low wages.
• Gomulka in power to sorts things out

1980

Poland in the economic crisis 

Widespread anger and unrest hit Poland in the early 1980s. There were protests over food shortages and the price of consumer products.

What was the trigger for the strikes to start?

1. Anna Walentynowicz is dismissed
2. Food shortages have increased
3. The government has increased the price of food
4. Wages have increased

14 August 1980 

Anna Walentynowicz is dismissed from the  Lenin shipyard in Gdansk 

• The trigger for the strike was the firing of a popular worker at the shipyard, a female crane operator and activist called Anna Walentynowicz. 

Just 5 months before her planned retirement, she was sacked for being a member of an illegal trade union. 

• This move proved highly unpopular with the shipyard workforce, who demanded that she be reinstated.

15 August 1980

Workers from the shipyard occupy the shipyard.

• Leader electrician Lech Walesa demands: increased pay and reinstatement of Anna W. 
• Foundation of trade Union Solidaity. 
• Unlike all other trade unions in communist states, Solidarity was not controlled by the communists. 
• Soon it had 9 million members. Their demands: not only better conditions for workers, but also more political and religious freedom. Unrest spread. 

Who was the leader of Solidarity

1. Brezhnev
2. Lech Walesa
3. Gomulka
4. Marshal Ustinov

The Interfactory Strike Committee presents the Polish government with 21 ambitious demands: including the right to organize independent trade unions, the right to strike, the release of political prisoners and increased freedom of expression.

03:37

Which demands were accepted by the government?

05:53

"Curb Solidarity, or there is worse to come." What is meant here?

31 August 1980

Representatives of the communist government of Poland agree to the demands of striking shipyard workers in the city of Gdansk

• Jaruzelski in power.
• Martial law (army has emergency powers) imposed urged by Moscow, it prohibits Solidarity and thousands of its supporters are arrested and held without trial.
• 
  Walesa imprisoned= even more a hero. The movement survived underground.

3 December 1981

6 February 1989

• "Round table" :government and union have talks.
  
• Consequence: Solidarity was once again legalized and elections were organized for June 1980.   Freedom of worship restored and status of the church legalized.

27 October 1990

 First Free and Democratic Elections 

Solidarity and other groups were free to put forward candidates, but the communist party was to be guaranteed a fixed number of seats.

Solidarity triumphs in elections and is allowed to form a coalition government that included both communist and Solidarity ministers.

Transition from dictatorship to democracy: Poland 

Gorbachev ‘s policies of Perestroika (reconstruction and transformation) and Glasnost (openness and transparency), changed the political mood in Poland. By calling for greater freedom in the S.U Gorbachev undermined the old-style communism in Eastern Europe. The threat of Russian tank began to disappear ( Sinatra Doctrine)

Sinatra doctrine: Non-interference was recognized as the guiding principle

of inter-socialist relations ( as opposed to the Brezhnev Doctrine) The name comes from Frank Sinatra’s famous song, My Way (“to each his own way”). 

What did you learn? How did Poland transition to democracy?