Examines the development of a civil society in Poland in the 1970’s, stressing that the institutions emerging during that period stemmed from and remained within the private sphere. In contrast, the Solidarity movement created a rapid transition from the private to the public, sparking the establishment of more organizations and giving Poles an enhanced sense of national identity. Throughout the 16 months of its legal existence, Solidarity functioned as a medium through which the needs and goals of civil society were transmitted to the state. Despite the significant role of Solidarity in the collapse of the Communist regime, Polish intellectuals appear reluctant to examine the movement and seem embarrassed by its antimodern tone.
