Non-Violence and the Strike Movements in Poland

Wojciech Modzelewski

Journal of Peace Research, 1982, vol. 19, issue 2, 107-116

Abstract: Strikes which occurred in the summer of 1980 in Poland, leading to the establishment of independent trade unions and extensions of civic freedoms, are analyzed as a successful revolutionary reform achieved through non-violent means. In 1980, mass strike actions turned out to be an effective example of a fight without the use of violence, and thus should be assessed from the point of view of the theory of non-violent action. Resulting changes could not be attained within official politics and/or methods of coercion. Processes which occurred in Poland in 1980 indicate therefore a way in which non-violent protests can be effectively employed for a deep transformation of a political system.In this paper both factors responsible for bloody repressions of violent riots/uprisings taking place before 1980 and factors which facilitated non-violence in 1980 are analyzed, together with some consequences of the pre-1980 protest.

Date: 1982
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:joupea:v:19:y:1982:i:2:p:107-116

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