Society and Culture in East-Central Europe – serie

Among the voices that speak to us from Poland today, the most important may be that of Adam Michnik. Michnik now sits in a jail belonging to the totalitarian regime, yet his first concern--and herein lies one of the keys to his thinking, and one should add, to his character--is with the quality of his own conduct, which, together with teh conduct of other victims of the present situation, will, he is sure, one day set the tone for whatever political system follows the totalitarian debacle. His essays are the most valuable guide we have to the origins of the revolution, and, more particularly, to its innovative practices.

Understanding the dramatic political, social, and economic changes that have taken place in Poland in the mid-1980s is one key to predicting the future of the communist bloc. Jadwiga Staniszkis, an influential, internationally known expert on contemporary trends in Eastern Europe, provides an insider's analysis that deserves the attention of all scholars interested in the region. Staniszkis presents the breakthrough of 1989 as a consequence not only of systemic contradictions within socialism but also of a series of chance events. These events include unique historical circumstances such as the emergence of the 'globalist' faction in Mosow, with its new, world-system perception of crisis, and the discovery of the round-table technique as a productive ritual of communication, imitated all over Eastern Europe. After describing the development, collapse, and reorganization of a 'new center' in Poland in 1989-1990, she discusses the first attempt at privatizing the economy. Her analysis of the dilemmas accompanying breakthrough and transition is an invaluable guide to the challenges that face both capitalism and democracy in Eastern Europe.

'I have lived, alone, in a cell, 157,852,800 seconds of solitude and fear. Cause for screaming! They sentence me to live yet another 220,838,400 seconds! To live them or to die from them' - from "The Silent Escape". Victim of Stalinist-era terror, Lena Constante was arrested on trumped-up charges of 'espionage' and sentenced to twelve years in Romanian prisons. "The Silent Escape" is the extraordinary account of the first eight years of her incarceration - years of solitary confinement during which she was tortured, starved, and daily humiliated. The only woman to have endured isolation so long in Romanian jails, Constante is also one of the few women political prisoners to have written about her ordeal. Unlike other more political prison diaries, this book draws us into the practical and emotional experiences of everyday prison life. Candidly, eloquently, Constante describes the physical and psychological abuses that were the common lot of communist-state political prisoners. She also recounts the particular humiliations she suffered as a woman, including that of male guards watching her in the bathroom.Constante survived by escaping into her mind - and finally by discovering the 'language of the walls', which enabled her to communicate with other female inmates. A powerful story of totalitarianism and human endurance, this work makes an important contribution to the literature of 'prison notebooks'.

The current transformation of many Eastern European societies is impossible to understand without comprehending the intellectual struggles surrounding nationalism in the region. Anthropologist Katherine Verdery shows how the example of Romania suggests that current ethnic tensions come not from a resurrection of pre-Communist Nationalism but from the strengthening of national ideologies under Communist Party rule.

A hero to many, Polish writer Adam Michnik ranks among today's most fearless and persuasive public figures. His imprisonment by Poland's military regime in the 1980s did nothing to quench his outpouring of writings, many of which were published in English as "Letters from Prison". Beginning where that volume ended, "Letters from Freedom" finds Michnik briefly in prison at the height of the 'cold civil war' between authorities and citizens in Poland, then released. Through his continuing essays, articles, and interviews, the reader can follow all the momentous changes of the last decade in Poland and East-Central Europe. Some of the writings have appeared in English in various publications; most are translated here for the first time. Michnik is never detached. His belief that people can get what they want without hatred and violence has always translated into action, and his actions, particularly the activity of writing, have required his contemporaries to think seriously about what it is they want.His commitment to freedom is absolute, but neither wild-eyed nor humorless; with a characteristic combination of idealism and pragmatism, Michnik says, 'In the end, politics is the art of foreseeing and implementing the possible'. Michnik's blend of conviction and political acumen is perhaps most vividly revealed in the interviews transcribed in the book, whether he is the subject of the interview or is conducting a conversation with Czeslaw Milosz, Vaclav Havel, or Wojciech Jaruzelski. These face-to-face exchanges tell more about the forces at work in contemporary Eastern Europe than could any textbook. Sharing Michnik's intellectual journey through a tumultuous era, we touch on all the subjects important to him in this wide-ranging collection and find they have importance for everyone who values conscience and responsibility. In the words of Jonathan Schell, 'Michnik is one of those who bring honor to the last two decades of the twentieth century'.

"Stalinism for All Seasons" is the first comprehensive history of the Romanian Communist Party (RCP). It traces the origins of the once-tiny, clandestine revolutionary organization in the 1920s through the years of national power from 1944 to 1989 to the post-1989 metamorphoses of its members. Vladimir Tismaneanu uses documents that he discovered while working in the RCP archives in Bucharest in the mid-1990s and interviews with many of the party members from the Ceau_escu and Gheorghiu-Dej eras to tell the absorbing story of how RCP members came to power as exponents of Moscow and succeeded in turning themselves into champions of autonomy. Tismaneanu analyzes both the main events in Romanian communism and the role of significant personalities in the party's history. Situating the rise and fall of Romanian communism within the world revolutionary movement, Stalinism for All Seasons shows that the history of communism in one country can illuminate the development of communism in the twentieth century.Tismaneanu discusses significant moments in the final six decades of world communism, including the Spanish Civil War, World War II, the Comintern, Stalin and the Bolshevization of the Eastern European communist parties, and de-Stalinization. He examines important events in international affairs during Nicolae Ceau_escu's rule (1965-1989) - particularly Romania's role in the Sino-Soviet conflict, the Middle East, European communism, and European security. Finally, Tismaneanu identifies the RCP's descendants among Romania's current political parties and personalities. Embracing a long and complex period, this book will interest readers of twentieth-century history and anyone curious about communism and postcommunism.

Konspira: Solidarity Underground offers a riveting and deeply personal account of the clandestine operations of Poland’s Solidarity movement during its underground phase. Built from extensive interviews with key activists, including Bogdan Borusewicz, Zbigniew Bujak, and Władysław Frasyniuk, the book illuminates the inner workings, challenges, and triumphs of the movement as it navigated the repressive political climate of the 1980s. The authors meticulously document the strategies, sacrifices, and resilience of individuals who risked everything to sustain the spirit of opposition and preserve the ideals of freedom and democracy. The narrative captures not only the historical facts but also the human dimensions of the struggle, providing a unique window into both the mechanics and the emotional landscape of resistance.More than just a historical chronicle, Konspira reflects the process of creating the book itself—a venture that mirrored the conspiratorial methods of its subjects. From evading surveillance to safeguarding recordings, the authors’ efforts to compile these testimonies embody the very essence of the underground struggle. As much a metaphor for the complexities of resistance as it is a detailed account, the book transcends its journalistic roots to offer readers an immersive experience. It serves as both a vital fragment of Polish history and a testament to the enduring power of collective action and courage in the face of oppression.This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1990.

This book examines the lives of a remarkable generation of Polish-Jewish Communists, whose experiences embody the profound socio-political upheavals of the 20th century. Born around 1910, these individuals joined the Communist movement during the 1930s, survived World War II in the USSR, and rebuilt their lives in postwar Poland, only to face defeat and exile in the late 1960s. Their journey reflects both the unique intersection of Jewish and Polish histories and broader existential questions of ideology, identity, and human agency. Through their revolutionary visions and struggles against oppressive systems, they grappled with moral and ethical dilemmas shaped by historical forces they often could not control. Their lives illustrate the broader dynamics of Central and Eastern Europe’s modern history, revealing the tensions between collective ideals and individual realities.Drawing on extensive qualitative research—including interviews, questionnaires, and archival materials—this study captures the collective trajectory of this generation while honoring the individuality of their experiences. It explores their radicalization, revolutionary careers, wartime experiences in the USSR, and postwar struggles in Poland, leading to their eventual downfall. Combining historical and sociological perspectives, the book seeks to uncover the patterns of identity, action, and social change that defined their lives. In doing so, it offers a panoramic view of their shared journey while also reflecting on the personal and political legacies of their generation. The analysis serves as both a tribute to their extraordinary experiences and an invitation to consider the broader lessons of their history.This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1991.

Konspira: Solidarity Underground offers a riveting and deeply personal account of the clandestine operations of Poland’s Solidarity movement during its underground phase. Built from extensive interviews with key activists, including Bogdan Borusewicz, Zbigniew Bujak, and Władysław Frasyniuk, the book illuminates the inner workings, challenges, and triumphs of the movement as it navigated the repressive political climate of the 1980s. The authors meticulously document the strategies, sacrifices, and resilience of individuals who risked everything to sustain the spirit of opposition and preserve the ideals of freedom and democracy. The narrative captures not only the historical facts but also the human dimensions of the struggle, providing a unique window into both the mechanics and the emotional landscape of resistance.More than just a historical chronicle, Konspira reflects the process of creating the book itself—a venture that mirrored the conspiratorial methods of its subjects. From evading surveillance to safeguarding recordings, the authors’ efforts to compile these testimonies embody the very essence of the underground struggle. As much a metaphor for the complexities of resistance as it is a detailed account, the book transcends its journalistic roots to offer readers an immersive experience. It serves as both a vital fragment of Polish history and a testament to the enduring power of collective action and courage in the face of oppression.This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1990.