The Wrocław premiere of Jacek Kuroń's book, Maturation. Political Papers 1964-1968

 Discussion meeting regarding the figure of Jacek Kuroń, The Open Letter To The Party,

the history of the PRL and contemporary Marxism

 with guest appearances from:

coordinated by: Michał Syska

 December 14 (Monday), 6:00 PM, library/café - pl. Kościuszki 12, Wrocław



On December 9, 5:30 PM, Salon Śląski, pl. Uniwersytecki 15 in Wrocław

a discussion meeting will be held concerning the book Nie Bądźcie Moimi Sędziami.

Rozmowy z Mieczysławem F. Rakowskim

(Do Not Be My Judges. Conversations with Mieczysław F. Rakowski)

including an appearance by the coauthor, JAN ORDYŃSKI (commentator of the Przegląd weekly).

Meeting coordinator: Michał  Syska


The book is a gargantuan interview. Conversations with Mieczysław Rakowski has been recorded from July to October 2008. The last meeting took place a few days before Rakowski’s death. His interviewers - a journalist and a social sciences professor and democratic opposition activist since 1968 – ask questions regarding important and painful matters: the martial law, the ups and downs of the author’s political career, the responsibility for PRL propaganda, the secret of the Polityka phenomenon, but also the personal price paid for a career in journalism and politics – family problems. The conversations unveil a very emotional image of post-war Poland. It is an important voice in the discussion on the fate of Polish people in the last half-century.

 

Warsaw (2-3.10.2009): International seminar on transformation in East - Central Europe

A seminar entitled “The Transformation in East-Central Europe 1989-2009. The Critical Perspective” was organised by the F. Lassalle Centre for Social Thought in cooperation with Transform! Europe.

The participants of the seminar, academia members and the representatives of the editorial offices of leftist periodicals and publications, discussed the political, social and economic aspects of the transformation, and the parties and party systems in post-communist countries.

Grzegorz Konat, an economist from the Institute for Market, Consumption and Business Cycles Research, presented the guidelines of the neoliberal economic reforms in East-Central European countries after 1989 and pointed out their negative effects.

Stefan Zgliczynski (Le Monde Diplomatique) analysed the foreign policy of the the former Eastern Bloc countries.

Peter Damo from the Romanian Social Forum and Jiri Malek from the Czech Society for European Dialogue provided an analysis of the processes and the effects of free-market transformations in their countries.

Dr. Maciej Gdula (University Of Warsaw, Krytyka Polityczna) presented the results of a research on the changes in the class system of the Polish society during the last two decades.

Dr. Jarosław Klebaniuk (University Of Wrocław) examined the conclusions of a psychological research on the social acceptance of inequalities.

Michał Syska (The F. Lassalle CFST) focused on the formation and institutionalisation processes of political parties in postcommunist countries.

Dr. Anna Paczesniak (University Of Wrocław) summarised the results of a research concerning the political views of the members of the Sojusz Lewicy Demokratycznej (Democratic Left Alliance) and Platforma Obywatelska (Civic Platform).

Jiri Hudecekfrom the Society for European Dialogue presented the formation process of the party system in the Czech Republic after the year 1989, while Peter Damo

discussed the characteristics of the Romanian political scene.

Christine Mendelsohn from the French foundation Espaces Marx talked about the politics of the European Union and the need for cooperation between leftist forces from both parts of Europe.

Walter Baier, the coordinator of Transform! Europe, presented research projects on the economic, social and ecological effects of the crisis, and the situation of leftist

parties in Europe; projects currently being prepared by Transform!