Polish Political Emigration in the 1980s

Current Research, Perspectives, and Challenges

Bibliographic Data

ID10355586
AuthorsPatryk Pleskot (0000-0001-5627-8325, corresponding author)
Year2015
Volume72
Issue2
Pages49-64
Publication date2015-10-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenuePolish American Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0032-2806 • E-ISSN: 2330-0833
PublisherPolish American Historical Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.5406/poliamerstud.72.2.0049
OpenAlexW2320941788
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited13

In the 1980s, a new wave of mass exodus arose of Poles leaving their country— neither the first nor the last in the long, turbulent history of Poland. It is estimated that approximately one million people left their homeland during that decade, the majority of whom (more than 55 percent) emigrated while the Solidarity movement operated legally and openly (1980–81), as well as during the years of political liberalization, namely 1987–89.1 Most people migrated to France, Germany, Italy, countries in Scandinavia, the UK, and the United States . In the vast majority of cases, the decision to leave was dictated by the economic and financial conditions. However, the masses of migrants also included (less numerous but very important and influential) Solidarity activists , who had left Poland primarily for political reasons. For many people, the destination country eventually became simply a

Development economics · Economics · Economy · Emigration · Homeland · Liberalization · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Solidarity · Historical and Contemporary Political Dynamics · Historical Geopolitical and Social Dynamics · Law · Polish Historical and Cultural Studies

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