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The Democratic Theory of the Polish Opposition: Normative Intentions and Strategic Ambiguities

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posted on 2024-06-28, 16:15 authored by Andrew Arato
Abstract This paper analyzes the political vision and social theory of Jacek Kuron and Adam Michnik, two of the outstanding spokesmen of the opposition to the Polish regime between 1976 and 1982. The paper argues that the work of Michnik and Kuron anticipated important aspects of the Solidarity movement of 1980-81 and, more generally, made significant contributions to reflecting about democracy in the context of post-totalitarian socialism. The author argues that Kuron in particular worked out a normative project that was to express the developing political philosophy of the Solidarity movement. He then sustains that the strategic dimensions of Kuron's work remained ambiguous before, during, and after the aegis of Solidarity. Finally, he argues that the impasse of Solidarity was due in part to the theoretical failures of the movement's major intellectuals, including Kuron and Michnik, particularly the tendency to overstate the totalitarian elements of the Polish regime and to understate the potential for effecting more conciliatory, albeit limited, change within that regime. Resumen Este texto analiza el pensamiento social y político de dos sobresalientes exponentes de la oposición al régimen polaco, entre 1976 y 1982. El autor argumenta que la obra de Jacek Kuron y Adam Michnik ha anticipado aspectos importantes del movimiento Solidaridad de 1980-81 y, en general, ha contribuído notablemente a una reflexión sobre la democracia dentro del contexto socialista post-totalitario. Kuron, en especial, produjo un proyecto normativo que podemos considerar expresión del desarrollo político filosófico de Solidaridad. A este respecto, el autor sostiene que las dimensiones estratégicas de los escritos de Kuron permanecieron ambiguas antes, durante, y despues de la égida del movimiento. A guisa de conclusión, el trabajo argumenta que el impasse de Solidaridad se debió parcialmente a las fallas teóricas de sus principales intelectuales, incluyendo Michnik y Kuron. En particular, por causa de su tendencia a sobreestimar el régimen polaco en relación a sus elementos totalitarios, y a subestimarlo en relación a su potencialidad para efectuar un cambio limitado de carácter reconciliatorio.

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Language

  • English

Temporal Coverage

1976-1982

Format

.pdf and online resource

Spatial Coverage

Poland

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