Solidarność

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This award-winning work makes the case for all organic working-class character of the Polish Solidarność revolution of 1980–81. Michał Siermiński debunks the canonical idea that th e movement was orchestrated primarily by intellectuals from the democratic opposition, who brought consciousness to the workers “from the outside.” Siermiński traces the origins of the Polish revolution to the self-activity and self-organization developed by the Polish working class during earlier protests, strikes, and occupations. The book convincingly demonstrates that Solidarność was driven by the working class’s own aims, experiences and revolutionary instinct – often in direct opposition to the efforts of intellectuals to contain its radicalism. Show more