Adaptation through Political Crises in Post-War Poland

Evolution of the Polish political system is analyzed in this paper in terms of objective and subjective antagonisms. Firstly, ’crises ’ of 1956 and 1980 are compared, focusing on cyclical characters of political processes in Poland. Similarities are stressed between 1956 and 1980 upheavals with regard to demands for democracy, justice and social welfare- permanent domains of frustration. Secondly, a typical political cycle is outlined. Its eight phases are described and compared for the periods 1956-1970 and 1970-1980, from the point of view which treats them as devices for adaptation to environments undergoing both internal and external changes. Finally, a discussioa is given of factors responsible for the stability of political alienation in Poland, pointing out the main sources of the bureaucratization: genesis and the type of political system, intrinsic structural contradictions, certain properties of in-stitutional structures, and deformation of politicians ’ and administrators ’ personalities. The evolution of the Polish political system after the Second World War was not harmo-nious, in spite of the fact that the effects of the socialist revolution increased social in-tegration. It is often claimed that socialism decreases the risk of structural contradic-tions transforming into antagonistic political relationships. But the power struggle preceding the fusion in December 1948 of the (Communist) Polish Workers ’ Party with the Polish Socialist Party was, without doubt, antagonistic. The contradictions of interests and programmes between the Block of Democratic Forces headed by the two working class parties and the Polish Peasants ’ Party of Stanislaw Mikolajczyk were accompanied by mutual feelings of hostility. Moreover, the struggle in 1947 and 1948 between the pro- and anti-communist elements within the Polish Socialist Party also had an antagonistic character. The poli-tical confrontation between the recentl