Citation

Modzelewski W. J. Peace Res. 1982; 19(2): 107-116.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1982, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/002234338201900204

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Strikes which occurred in the summer of 1980 in Poland, leading to the establishment of independent trade unions and extensions of civic freedoms, are analyzed as a successful revolutionary reform achieved through non-violent means. In 1980, mass strike actions turned out to be an effective example of a fight without the use of violence, and thus should be assessed from the point of view of the theory of non-violent action. Resulting changes could not be attained within official politics and/or methods of coercion. Processes which occurred in Poland in 1980 indicate therefore a way in which non-violent protests can be effectively employed for a deep transformation of a political system. In this paper both factors responsible for bloody repressions of violent riots/uprisings taking place before 1980 and factors which facilitated non-violence in 1980 are analyzed, together with some consequences of the pre-1980 protest.