Intellectuals and Mass Movements. The Study of Political Dissent in Poland in 1956

Abstract

Poland in 1956 saw a profound crisis in the political and social system created during the Stalinist period. The decay of the system after Stalin's death resulted in, and was at the same time accelerated by, a great mobilisation of and participation involving various political and social groups. Social activity on such a scale recurred only once in the history of Communist Poland-the ‘Solidarity’ period (1980–1).