Solidarity and Its Effect on the Fall of European Communist free essay sample

Although Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and East Germany would receive more attention and recognition for their roles in the demise of communism, Poland with its abort and inflation problems throughout the sasss and 1 asss would be the catalyst that ignites the movement towards democracy throughout Eastern Europe including the former Soviet Union. Solidarity roots can be traced from its meager beginnings escalating from the ashes of Polish labor strikes of 1 970 and 1976 to its origins as a trade union in the Lenin Shipyards of Agenda in 1980.The Solidarity Trade Union, at its highest point of popularity, would include almost 10 million Polish citizens, about one quarter of the total Polish population. Solidarity would rise from the first non-communist independent trade union to becoming a full-fledged political party that would take all but one seat in the Polish Parliament during the election of 1989. In 1990, the leader of the Solidarity party, Lech Wales would become the first freely e lected president of Poland since the Communist Party took control of the government in 1947. We will write a custom essay sample on Solidarity and Its Effect on the Fall of European Communist or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Poland experienced many social and economic issues in the sasss, continuing on through the sasss. From the shipyard strike of 1 970, in which over 200 people were killed, to the work stoppages of 980 that would eventually spread across the nation, the Polish Government continuously raised prices on basic domestic commodities while lowering worker wage. This was partially because of Pollards acquisition of investment from western banks which ran in direct contradiction to the communist principle.John Dearborn, in his book Central and Eastern Europe, stated that the Polish Government launched a campaign of crash modernization and industrialization, but did it all with borrowed money from Western governments and banks (103). These economic policies would trigger social unrest and bring about the organizing of the Solidarity Trade Union, the first legalized non-communist trade union within the Eastern Bloc. Because the union was moving towards becoming more of a political party, it was seen as a threat to the Communist government.Not long after Solidarity was recognized by the gover nment, the new Prime Minister General Which Serializes citing possible intervention and invasion by the Soviet Union, declared martial law in 1981 and banned all labor unions including Colic while imprisoning most Of its leader. Although the crackdown Of the lat event only lasted 1 8 months, the banning of Solidarity would remit until 1989, forcing it to exist underground. After more worker strikes in members of the communist government requested Lech Wales and 0 Solidarity leaders to participate in what is known as the Round Table T The outcome of these meetings resulted in the legalization of labor par the existence of plural political parties, and the agreement to hold gene elections. As the new Polish Government formed, others nations within Warsaw pact took notice of Pollards changes and began the immersion heir own revolutions by their citizens and also from inside their governments.Beginning with Hungary and Czechoslovakia, reforms wit their governments both economic and political would continue to follow. Pollards leading example. Within weeks of the changes within their governments, other Eastern Bloc countries, and most notable: East Gear would begin policies of openness and change. It is common belief Mac some historians and media that the for the fall of Eastern European communism has been related to the appointment of Mikhail Coacher Gener al Secretary of the Soviet Union and continuous pressure from the United States under the leadership of Ronald Reagan.According to Janis Kowalski in Spring in Winter, to read the press, or to hear some west. Leaders talk, you would think that history began with Geographer. His or undeniable- Glasnost, Perestroika, the acceptance of the principle that member of the Warsaw Pact is free to arrange its own internal affairs ( After years of hard line communist leaders, the Soviet Union itself felt TTL need for more economic and social reforms. Shortly after coming to pop March of 1985, Mikhail Geographer and his government began to implore he policies of Glasnost (Openness) and Perestroika (Restructuring).Glee 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 cocoon reform, Geographer directed the Soviet political Structure and its economy towards demagnification and free market capitalism. These policies alls to more openness towards the Soviet Bloc countries of Eastern Europe as the increase of Nationalism within its own borders.