Panel on Poland's Transformation from Communism to Democracy

 Submitted by Mary Hendra and Laura Tavares

After a day spent on the site of the former Warsaw Ghetto, we gathered tonight to learn about Poland's more recent past, and to consider its future. We were thrilled to be welcomed to Poland's Presidential Palace, where we strolled through beautiful formal gardens on our way to rooms filled with history. We had the pleasure of hearing a panel discuss the transformation from communism to democracy in Poland. It wasn’t a panel of historians, but individuals who had played pivotal roles in that transformation, who remain significant figures in Poland today. This extraordinary opportunity came thanks to our partners at the Forum for Dialogue Among Nations, and we think it was also a testament to these leaders' appreciation of the role of education in nurturing democracy and civil society - something which has been at the heart of their own lives.

The leaders we spoke with had each experienced Poland's democratic transition from unique vantage points:

- Stephen Mull is a professional diplomat who served in Poland twice before being recently appointed US ambassador to the Republic of Poland. His first departure from Poland followed being accused of being a NATO spy, but his love for the Polish people was clearly established from that first visit.  After describing the challenges and intimidation of communist rule, he said, “Communists may have had the guns, prisons, and power, but they did not have the spirit of the people.” Mull found their hope for freedom uplifting.
- Henry Wujec, adviser to the president of Poland and legendary leader of Solidarity Movement, was a hero to the many Poles in the audience. He illustrated his personal story of the Solidarity Movement by passing around an original copy of the underground publication Robotnik, which played a key role in connecting the intellegentsia and the workers.  Wujec credited his wife's role in the underground press, reminding us of the important role played by many Polish women.  He also described the initial talks in this room between Solidarity and the Communist government. As a start to loosening the grip of the Communist party, they reached the agreement that 35% of the seats in Parliament could be elected, with the remaining appointed by communist party. That was the crack they needed.
- Michael Boni, former minister of administration and digitization and former minister of labour and social policy, spoke about the vital principles essential for the economic transformation of Poland during the last 25 years. This is a transformation frequently referred to as “shock therapy.” It required many sacrifices and creative thinking. He emphasized the foundation of the ideals of Solidarity - a social energy, having hope, and valuing the importance of having a choice.
- Aleksander Smolar, chairman of the Board of the Stefan Batory Foundation and Political Scientist, left Poland in 1971 in the wake of his expulsion from university and his arrest.  As a Jew, he was also fearful because of the government antisemitic campaign at the time. He remained active in the underground movement from afar, publicizing the Solidarity Movement outside Poland.  He never thought that he would return to Poland, but after 18 years away was invited to serve as an advisor to the first Solidarity President, Lech Walesa. 

Our experience listening to the panel helps us to connect the strata of history we've been exploring this week. As Andrzej Folwarczny, President of the Forum for Dialogue Among Nations, pointed out, the current efforts to recover Poland's Jewish past and revisit its complex history is only possible because of this transformation over the last 25 years.

Wujek reminded us of something that has been relevant to all of our conversations so far: the importance of time and place.  Next month, Poland celebrates 25 years of freedom. In this palace, the beautiful Presidential Palace, the Warsaw Pact was signed.  And in this room, with its beautiful green marble columns, Solidarity met with the Communist government 34 years ago. 

During these 25-year anniversary celebrations, we look back not only to the transformation from communism and not only to the devastation of World War II, but even further back to the stories of Poland's multiethnic past which we hear at the Museum of the History of the Polish Jews. All of these stories shaped the experiences of the panelists this evening.

And in turn, the stories shared by these panelists give us hope.  We have been learning of the challenges still faced by the people living in Poland - the complexity of developing a shared understanding of the past when there is not a common perspective on the events of the Holocaust and World War II, the difficulty of building bridges and acceptance when the country is largely monoethnic and monoreligious, and the presence even today of antisemitism and right wing politics. But, in this panel discussing the last 25 years, what we most heard was the willingness of the Polish people to question. 

The emergence of Solidarity, acceptance into NATO, economic transition of shock therapy and development as a strong presence for Europe and partner for the United States came in part from a willingness to question the assumptions of their own society as well as the assumptions of the international community.
Such willingness to question, to engage in dialogue and listen to new or unexpected ideas - isn’t that what is most needed for understanding a person and a past which may be different from what we think we know?