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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.
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.
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