Between Moral Authority and Politics: The Confederation of Political Prisoners after the Fall of Communism in Czechoslovakia (1989–1994)
Between Moral Authority and Politics: The Confederation of Political Prisoners after the Fall of Communism in Czechoslovakia (1989–1994)

Summary/Abstract: In the early days of the Velvet Revolution in the autumn of 1989, former political prisoners revived the idea of creating a new organization to defend their interests, demand rehabilitation and compensation, and investigate and document the crimes of the communist dictatorship. In the weeks that followed, they decided to establisha new organization called the Confederation of Political Prisoners of Czechoslovakia (Konfederace politických vězňů Československa, KPV), which rapidly expanded its membership and within a few months had more than 16,000 members and more than eighty regional branches. This membership base was interested not only in advocating for improved conditions for former political prisoners and their rehabilitation, but also in positioning itself as an important partner in ongoing political development. The Confederation’s moral capital, publicly promoted in various statements and memoranda from the earliest days of the Velvet Revolution, served as an important driving force in the post-revolutionary process. It played a key role in promoting legislative measures to compensate the victims of the communist dictatorship and actively participated in the process of exposing the crimes of communism. The Confederation’s activities since its establishment have been extensive, and the present article focuses primarily on its early years, during which time the Confederation confronted both internal and external challenges, ranging from organizational growth and identity formation to the extent of its involvement in political life. The author examines how these different political, social, and economic conditions influenced the demands of the Confederation and the development of its strategies. While the article’s primary focus is on the political ambitions of the Confederation – examining its role in the political struggle, as well as its ability to influence the political agenda – the author also addresses the internal dynamics of the organization, its efforts to purge members who had collaborated with the communist dictatorship and the resulting conflicts among its members.

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