Przegląd Politologiczny, 2020, nr 2

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The 1988–1989 transformation in Poland. The authorities, the opposition, the Church
(Wydawnictwo Naukowe Wydziału Nauk Politycznych i Dziennikarstwa, UAM, 2020) Stachowiak, Paweł
The events that took place in Poland in 1988–1989 established a transformation model of which various elements tended to be replicated in other countries of the Soviet Bloc. Nevertheless, certain elements of the Polish transformation model were specific and unique, having sprouted from a specific historical context. The author of the paper proposes that the triad formed by “the authorities, the opposition and the Church” be considered a uniquely Polish aspect of the political and social transformation that took place after August 1980. The goal of this paper is to present this transformation with respect to each of the above three actors. An analysis of their concepts and actions leads to the conclusion that Poland should be considered an exceptional model of transformation in Central and Eastern Europe. The Polish transformation model featured a key and unique element, the Catholic Church – an institution that played a considerable role in making the 1988–1989 transformation non-confrontational.