Solidarity Research Paper

`Solidarity and its effect on the fall of European Communist Regimes The rise of the Polish Solidarity Trade Union in the 1980’s was historically significant because of its continued persistency for social change. Solidarity’s ability to develop and persevere through years of political oppression led to substantial changes within the Polish Government and its influence led to the eventual collapse of Eastern European Communist regimes. Although Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and East Germany would receive more attention and recognition for their roles in the demise of communism, Poland with its labor and inflation problems throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s would be the catalyst that ignites the movement towards democracy throughout Eastern Europe
Not long after Solidarity was recognized by the government, the new Prime Minister General Wojciech Jaruzelski citing possible intervention and invasion by the Soviet Union, declared martial law in 1981and banned all labor unions including Solidarity, while imprisoning most of its leader. Although the crackdown of the labor movement only lasted 18 months, the banning of Solidarity would remain until 1989, forcing it to exist underground. After more worker strikes in 1988, members of the communist government requested Lech Walesa and other Solidarity leaders to participate in what is known as the “Round Table Talks.” The outcome of these meetings resulted in the legalization of labor parties, the existence of plural political parties, and the agreement to hold general elections. As the new Polish Government formed, others nations within the Warsaw Pact took notice of Poland’s changes and began the immersions of their own revolutions by their citizens and also from inside their governments. Beginning with Hungary and Czechoslovakia, reforms within their governments both economic and political would continue to follow Poland’s leading example. Within weeks of the changes within their governments, other Eastern Bloc countries, and most notable: East Germany would begin policies of openness and
According to Janusz Ziolkowski in Spring in Winter, “to read the press, or to hear some western leaders talk, you would think that history began with Gorbachev. His role is undeniable- Glasnost, Perestroika, the acceptance of the principle that each member of the Warsaw Pact is free to arrange its own internal affairs” (47). After years of hard line communist leaders, the Soviet Union itself felt the need for more economic and social reforms. Shortly after coming to power in March of 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev and his government began to implement the policies of Glasnost (Openness) and Perestroika (Restructuring). Glasnost allowed for more freedom of speech and the press, which initiated and ultimately led to the rise of opposition and criticism of the Communist Government. With Perestroika and its programs of political and economic reform, Gorbachev directed the Soviet political structure and its economy towards democratization and free market capitalism. These policies also led to more openness towards the Soviet Bloc countries of Eastern Europe as well as the increase of Nationalism within its own