Published in 2020 for the fortieth anniversary of the explosive birth of the Polish independent workers’ movement, Solidarność. This book explains why the movement emerged when, where and how it did; and why it was eventually crushed by the anti-working-class Polish state. With photographs, scans of publications and maps, and more.
We are working on a facility to directly sell electronic files from our website. In the meantime, buy the PDF for £3 and the ereader version (MOBI, EPUB, etc.) for £4 by transferring the money to us and emailing us with your order.
2020 is the fortieth anniversary of the explosive birth of the Polish independent workers’ movement, Solidarność (Solidarity).
The Polish workers’ struggle of 1980-1, from the creation of Solidarność in the mass strikes of August 1980 to the military coup of 1981, shook the so-called “socialist” ruling classes of Eastern Europe. The history of the movement is also full of lessons for the genuine socialist left of 2020. The story of Solidarność is a history of working-class courage, creativity, self-organisation and mass militancy against a despotic, bureaucratic Stalinist ruling class.
This book aims to explain why the movement emerged in Poland, in 1980, why Solidarność took the political shape it did, and why, in the end, the movement became a victim of the anti-working-class Polish state.
Additional articles deal with the history of Poland since the 1980s and the poisonous and disorientating effects of Stalinism inside the British labour movement.
Appendices:
Features photographs of events, scans of publications and maps, and more.
We also use analytics & advertising services. To opt-out click for more information.