Collapse of Communism in Poland - Essay Example

During the 60’s the economic decline was due to the country’s extravagance on the expenditure for heavy industry, armaments and its little concern for the consumer production. Although the lands were returned to the peasants, the farms were too small for agriculture production. The autocracy of Gomulka was all too helpful to worsen the economic crises. What resulted was a presence of a communist government strong in its regime, yet too weak in generating any reform. Price rise of the consumer goods and wage decline of the workers especially in the 1970’s would always invite wide spread demonstrations across streets of all polish towns almost always resulting into bloodshed due to the staunch retaliation of the communist soldiers.

The Gierek era between 1970 and 1980 was only a replication of the Gomulka’s policies with promises of reforms never fulfilled. The recession of the mid-70’s increased oil prices, uplifted the prices of imported goods and declined the demand of Polish goods. Poland’s foreign debt showed no respite. What resulted was a natural price-hike that invited wide spread national demonstration with special prominence in Dlock and Radom. When a polish national, Karol Wojtyła became the pope, John Paul IInd, and subsequently visited Poland, it only added to the spirit of nationhood and a desire to overthrow the communist regime in Poland.

The years of 1980’s too saw the presence of non-stop labor strikes. The August of the year 1980, however is attributed as one of the greatest contributors of what was to be ultimately the abolition of communism. An independent trade union called ‘Solidarity’ was formed, led by Lech Walesa, primarily to amend the economic difficulties. But it became a reason to uphold the anti-communist social movement. Staggering numbers of people became affiliated to the union including people form Catholic Church, the anti-communist leftists and the intellects.

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