The Independent Satellite: Society And Politics In Poland Since 1945

Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: Worn/faded, no tears
Pages: Good , price clipped
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A landmark work of Cold War political history, The Independent Satellite: Society and Politics in Poland Since 1945 chronicles the turbulent trajectory of Poland under Soviet dominance, tracing the nation's complex struggle to maintain a distinct cultural and political identity within the Eastern Bloc. Hansjakob Stehle presents a nuanced account of the forces — ecclesiastical, intellectual, and popular — that shaped Polish society in the postwar decades, arguing that Poland was never a fully compliant satellite state but rather a nation in persistent, if constrained, resistance. With the authority of a seasoned journalist and scholar, Stehle details the uneasy relationship between the Polish Catholic Church and the communist government, illustrating how religion served as a powerful counterweight to Marxist ideology. The tone is measured and analytical, grounded in firsthand observation and rigorous research, making it an indispensable resource for anyone seeking to understand the social and political undercurrents that would eventually give rise to the Solidarity movement and the broader collapse of communist rule in Eastern Europe.