Solidarity with Solidarity - Western European Trade Unions and the Polish Crisis, 1980-1982 (Hardcover)

The Polish crisis in the early 1980s provoked a great deal of reaction in the West. Not only governments, but social movements were also touched by the establishment of the Independent Trade Union Solidarnosc in the summer of 1980, the proclamation of martial law in December 1981, and Solidarnosc's underground activity in the subsequent years. In many countries, campaigns were set up in order to spread information, raise funds, and provide the Polish opposition with humanitarian relief and technical assistance. Labor movements especially stepped into the limelight. A number of Western European unions were concerned about the new international tension following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the new hard-line policy of the US and saw Solidarnosc as a political instrument of clerical and neo-conservative cold warriors. This book analyzes reaction to Solidarnosc in nine Western European countries and within the international trade union confederations. It argues that Western solidarity with Solidarnosc was highly determined by its instrumental value within the national context. Trade unions openly sided with Solidarnosc when they had an interest in doing so, namely when Solidarnosc could strengthen their own program or position. But this book also reveals that reaction in allegedly reluctant countries was massive, albeit discreet, pragmatic, and humanitarian, rather than vocal, emotional, and political.

General

Imprint:	Lexington Books
Country of origin:	United States
Series:	The Harvard Cold War Studies Book Series
Release date:	October 2010
First published:	November 2010
Editors:	Idesbald Goddeeris
Contributors:	Nino De Amicis • Stefan Berger • Bent Boel • Friedhelm Boll • Sandra Cavallucci • Kim Christiaens • Andrzej Chwalba • Jose M. Faraldo • Frank Georgi
Dimensions:	241 x 162 x 26mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Hardcover
Pages:	322
ISBN-13:	978-0-7391-5070-2
Categories:	Books > Humanities > History > European history > General Books > Humanities > History > History of specific subjects > Social & cultural history Books > Humanities > History > World history > From 1900 > Postwar, from 1945 Books > Business & Economics > Industry & industrial studies > Industrial relations & safety > Industrial relations > Trade unions Books > History > European history > General Books > History > History of specific subjects > Social & cultural history Books > History > World history > From 1900 > Postwar, from 1945
LSN:	0-7391-5070-7
Barcode:	9780739150702

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