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General Conflict:

Poland was under harsh Communist rule since before the 1950s.

In 1980 the first major nonviolent strike which caused a series of other “solidarity strikes” was by the workers at the Lenin Shipyards in Gdansk, Poland (224, 225)

Goal was to be able to form “independent, self governing trade unions separate from the structures of the government and Communist Party” (225)

Communications:

Communist government met with the Interfactory Strike Committee (MKS) to negotiate an end to the strikes and give them the right to form unions (225)

Representatives from 36 new trade unions met to form a federation known as Solidarity (225)

Economic System:

Economic conditions worsened in Poland in 1981, causing more strikes by Solidarity (226)

Political System and Governing Regime:

Union power led the Communist government to feel nervous and call for Martial Law (226)

Judicial System:

Arrested thousands of Solidarity members

Used military and riot police to stop peaceful demonstrations (226)

[Posted by Brianna Rider]

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2. Issues and Objectives of Contending Groups

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2. Issues and Objectives of Contending Groups

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Communist Party: Did not want workers to form any type of union separate from the Communist Party structure. It's goal was to thoroughly destroy any popular protests or such organizations (225).
Interfactory Strike Committee: wanted everyone to have the ability to form a trade union. They formed solidarity strikes in which they would not stop striking until everyone could form a union (224).
Solidarity: a national trade union federation with over 500 representatives that wanted to unionize other parts of Polish society. They consistently fought with the Polish government and were faced with prison during a period of martial law (226).
General Jaruzelski's Communist government: did everything it could to keep Polish trade unions from gaining power and drove the trade unions underground and into persecution after too much fighting with his government. The government wanted to restore stability and keep the trade unions from gaining anymore power and banned them as a result. Unfortunately this tactic failed when the trade unions gained more power and free elections were forced by the trade unions on Poland. The General's government was usurped by representatives from trade unions (228-230).

[Posted by Tyler Radenbaugh]

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Poland began a nonviolent struggle against authoritarian communist government after they stole parliamentary elections in 1946.        https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/polands-solidarity-movement-1980-1989/
August 1980, a special commission was created in Moscow to formulate policy in response to development in Poland. October 22, Polish defense minister Jaruzelski started planning for martial law. At the Politburo meeting of 10 December 1981, the Soviet leadership was outraged to learn that Jaruzelski was still making his crackdown on Solidarity conditional on a promise of a Soviet military intervention if anything went wrong. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_reaction_to_the_Polish_crisis_of_1980–1981
In early August 1980, a new wave of strikes resulted in the founding of the independent trade union "Solidarity" (Polish Solidarność) led by electrician Lech Wałęsa. The growing strength and activity of the opposition caused the government of Wojciech Jaruzelski to declare martial law in December 1980.     https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Poland_(1945–1989)
After martial law was imposed in Poland and Solidarity was outlawed, Wałęsa was again arrested. Released from custody, he continued his activism and was prominent in the establishment of the 1989 Round Table Agreement that led to semi-free parliamentary elections in June 1989 and to a Solidarity-led government. On 8 October 1982 Solidarity was outlawed. Wałęsa was an informal leader of the non-governmental side in the negotiations.         https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lech_Wałęsa

[Posted by Darline Sainmelus]

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Workers in other local industries (224)

Interfactory Strike Committee, or MKS (224)

Workers in wider Gdansk area including Sopot & Gdynia (225)

Strikers were later joined by more than 500 enterprises (225)

“Solidarity,” a federation formed by 36 trade unions with 500 representatives. By mid 1981 Approximately 1/3 of the population were members. (225)

Rural sister organization of farmers (225)

After 1983, during military rule, loosely coordinated underground cells continued the movement. (227)

Wiktor Kulerski, an underground Solidarity leader (227)

Protest walkers in town of Swidnik in February, 1982 (227-28)

“Wildcat” strikers that swept the country in 1988 (228)

Members of Solidarity elected to the Assembly and Senate in 1989 (228)

[Posted by Michelle White]

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These third parties helped pave the way for the Interfactory Strike Committee (MKS) who formed the trade union federation known as Solidarity:

Early student demonstrators in 1968

Early strikers in mid-1970s

Committee for Defense of Workers (KOR)

1970s underground press and publishing (224)

Third parties who helped Solidarity movement beginning in August, 1980:

Food stores and train and bus transportation who received permits to continue operating during strikes.

Deputy Prime Minister Jagielski (225)

Soviet Army reservists who caused mobilization problems and many who deserted (226)

Underground publishers and illegal radio and televisions broadcasters

Demonstrators in Swidnik who took walks during mass media evening broadcasts

Wildcat strikers in 1988 (228)

Third parties on the side of the opposition:

Soviet Army (226)

Riot police (226)

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The Dependency of the Opponent Group on the Resisting Population
The Communist party controlled all of Poland at the start of the Solidarity movement. While in control, they were completely dependent on the obedience of the population. As strikes and disobedience continued, a military invasion was ordered, but this intervention was made impossible. The military was disoriented, and so many soldiers deserted upon receiving that order that it was impossible for the government to punish them (226).

The Dependency of the Resisting Population on the Opponent Group

The resisting population also depended on the Communist government. The entire society was run by this party, so the population was, in a sense, at their mercy. This became particularly clear when members of the resistance group were arrested for “political crimes” (226). Once the Solidarity movement moved underground, however, the resistors reclaimed their power, and the dependency shifted. The actions of the resistance group made the “Communist party itself [become] unreliable and [approach] a state of collapse” (226). The fact that the Communist government eventually gave in to the demands of the resisting group further indicates dependence. The party was not able to thrive or survive without loyal supporters.

Potential Independence
I don't believe it is possible for a Communist government to ever become fully independent, because without the obedience of the population they control, they have no power. Ultimately, to be effective they will always depend on another group. The resisting population, however, did have potential for more freedom. Their goal was to create a union separate from their government. By applying enough pressure through their nonviolent struggle, they eventually were able to succeed (228).

Sharp, Gene. Waging Nonviolent Struggle. East Boston: Porter Sargent Publishers Inc., 2005.

[Posted by Leah Rothchild]