Osamělý protest v prosincové noci. Cesty politického myšlení „pokrokových“ katolíků v Polsku
A lonely protest on a december night means of political thought among “progressive” catholics in Poland

Summary/Abstract: At the end of 1981, the People’s Republic of Poland again experienced a serious political crisis, which the governing Polish United Workers’ Party (PSDS) tried to find a way out of by negotiating with opposition forces, headed by the Solidarity union movement and representatives of the Polish Catholic Church. Ultimately, the PSDS decided to resolve the situation by force and, early in the morning on 13 December, General Wojciech Jaruzelski declared a state of emergency in a speech on radio and television which applied to the entire country. With this decision, all reforms leading to liberalisation were suspended. Poland went into international isolation and the evident stagnation of the communist regime was prolonged by several more years. One of the few, who according to many saved the honour of Poles at this difficult time, was the member of the Council of State Ryszard Reiff. The author looks at this man’s life story, which is full of political upheaval and reversal of power.

• Details
• Contents