6. I ndependent Organisations and Opposition

Abstract

Independent organisations play a significant role in helping to spark, organise and promote oppositional social movements. In Poland, two organisations played a crucial part in aiding this movement: (i) Komitet Obrony Robotnika (KOR) or Workers' Defence Committee and (ii) the Catholic Church. KOR was able to protect its activists and provide an umbrella for others through its ability to publicise. Later, a proliferation of groups emerged which included the Student Solidarity Committee (SKS) and the Founding Committees for Free Trade Unions on the Baltic Coast. Most workers viewed the Church as an ally and often as Poland’s moral voice. Protests prefigured the battle that developed within the Party when it was faced with the challenge of a huge social movement that was both independent of and opposed to the Party. It is clear that as the country headed into crisis. Keywords:Catholic church; Komitet Obrony Robotnika (KOR); Poland; Polish Pope; Workers Defence Committee