The resurrection of rights in Poland

the long version

Jacek Kurczewski synthesizes empirical evidence and theoretical analysis of the transition to democracy and the rule of law to demonstrate the resurrection of rights in Poland. He raises the question of whether the Polish experience was unique, or if it was merely a manifestation of the common problems affecting most Eastern European societies in the last quarter of the twentieth century. From a detailed analysis of day-to-day rule-making to the study of internal democracy within Solidarity, the author makes a compelling case for the role of deep-rooted social values and the rise of a middle class in bringing about the transformation of Polish society.