„Banki groźniejsze niż tanki”. Mechanizmy gospodarczego nacisku Związku Sowieckiego na Polskę (1980–1981)
“Banks more dangerous than tanks”. Mechanisms of the Soviet Union’s Economic Pressure on Poland (1980–1981)

Summary/Abstract: The article focuses on the economic blackmail used by the Soviet Union against the Polish People’s Republic (the PRL) during the so-called Polish crisis (1980–1981). In 1980–1981, the Kremlin achieved great efficiency in the simultaneous use of many foreign policy tools. To force the introduction of martial law by the Polish authorities, three basic methods of pressure were implemented: threats to use military intervention, support for the pro-Soviet faction of the Polish United Workers’ Party (the PZPR) and threats to cut off supplies of raw materials and financial aid. Compared to the economic, political and military consequences of a possible invasion of the Warsaw Pact troops in Poland, the use of those three tools was rather costless. Such a strategy could be used over a longer period of time and flexibly, depending on the development of the situation. Based on the conducted analysis – using the studies and available source materials – the threat to reduce supplies of raw materials was the most effective tool in the Kremlin Arsenal. The hierarchy of Soviet foreign policy tools adopted so far – from the most to the least important ones – was as follows: threat of military intervention, support for the pro-Soviet faction within the PZPR, then economic pressure. In fact, that order should be reversed. The most important tool in the Kremlin Arsenal was the sanctions – it was the threat of their application that finally pushed the Polish leadership to take action.

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