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The paradox of Solidarity's legacy

Contested values in Poland's transitional politics

Bibliographic Data

ID11048534
AuthorsJack Bielasiak (Indiana University Bloomington, corresponding author)
Year2010
Volume38
Issue1
Pages41-58
Publication date2010-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueNationalities Papers (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-5992 • E-ISSN: 1465-3923
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1080/00905990903394482
OpenAlexW2023528643
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited33

Poland's post-communist development is often depicted as a contrast between a unified, engaged society of pre-1989 and a passive, divisive society of post-1989. What explains the displacement of political solidarity with a fragmented political scene? A factor specific to Poland is rooted in the struggle of Solidarity against communist power. The consequences are subsequent attempts to appropriate the values of Solidarność as political capital by competing political voices, leading to contestation about the nature of the country. This normative discourse was evident first in the post-communist divide, between forces stemming from the former communist regime and those affiliated with the opposition. More recently, the saliency of the post-communist division has receded, and a new contested discourse has surfaced among voices coming out of the Solidarity tradition. This rhetoric seeks to define a contrast between a “Solidaristic Poland” dedicated to traditional and Christian values affirming notions of exclusivity and superiority, and a “liberal Poland” dedicated to market and pluralist principles based on competition and individualism. In both political divides, the legacy of Solidarity provides useful political capital to advance distinctive visions of Poland

Communism · Opposition (politics · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Solidarity · Vision · Eastern European Communism and Reforms · European Politics and Security · Law · Polish Historical and Cultural Studies

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Unique citing works7
Citations per year0,58
Citation span2014 - 2023 (10)
Citation velocityhistorical
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 7
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