The origins and activity of the workers' defence committee, KOR: 1976–1980

ABSTRACT

During the period 1976 – 1980 the Workers' Defence Committee KOR, more than any other organization, helped to change the pattern of political dissent in Poland. The Committee performed a pioneering role in gradually transforming the expression of dissent from a spontaneous and/or clandestine type of activity into open, organized dissidence. Primarily as a result of KOR's efforts, both social divisions and the state monopoly of information were successfully overcome. Breaking down the division between the workers and the intelligentsia, a division forcibly imposed by the state, was one of KOR's greatest achievements.

However, not all KOR's achievements were a result of the Committee's direct activity. More often than not, they were brought about through indirect influence on other individuals. Indeed, one of KOR's most important achievements before the emergence of Solidarity was to change the opinions of a significant proportion of both the Polish workers and the intelligentsia. It was in the sphere of ideas that KOR's impact was most profound. And this, in turn, had a significant impact on Polish politics.