Polish Shades of Green

Green Ideas and Political Powers in Poland

Edited by Przemysław Sadura

Translation: Katarzyna Nowakowska

Editing: Justyna Włodarczyk

Project coordinator: Katarzyna Radzikowska

Production: Micheline Gutman

Original version: „Polski odcień zieleni”, Warsaw, December 2008.

The project is carried out by the Green European Foundation, the political

foundation of the aisbl Green European Institute, with support of the

Heinrich Böll Foundation, Regional Office Warsaw.

Brussels / Warsaw, December 2008.

This project has been made possible by funding from the European

Parliament. The European Parliament is not responsible for the content of

the project.

The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) alone.

They do not necessarily reflect the views of the Green European Foundation

or the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

Copyright (original texts) by the Heinrich Böll Foundation, Regional Office

Warsaw.

Original text „Między Wschodem i Zachodem” („Between East and West”)

copyright by Adam Ostolski.

Copyright (English translation) by the Green European Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Polish Shades of Gr

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Contents

Introduction

4

Claude Weinber, Agnieszka Rochon

1. Green politics in a post-political society

6

Przemysław Sadura, Agnieszka Kwiatkowska

2. Between East and West

11

Adam Ostolski

3. The Green Finale of the People’s Republic of Poland

16

Ewa Charkiewicz

4. Zieloni 2004 – scenes from a long march

22

Agnieszka Grzybek, Dariusz Szwed

5. The boundaries of Green politics

27

Maciej Gdula

6. Green modernisation

31

Edwin Bendyk

7. Let us not free the state from responsibility

36

Interview with Agnieszka Graff

8. The Greens without ecology?

41

Interview with Jacek Żakowski

4

Introduction

In Western Europe, Green parties are a regular element of the political scene, in their countries as well as in the European Union. Originating as parties of protest and extra-parliamentary opposition, they have joined mainstream structures, often assuming responsibility for co-government. Their beginnings are connected with the events of 1968 and the wave of new social movements born in the wake of the revolt.

In the countries of the then Socialist block 1968 did not possess this dimension. Green parties began to form much later, and in a different political reality – in the climate of democratic transformation initiated in 1989.

The “new” EU member countries are attributed with certain shared experiences, described as the “post-Communist syndrome”, which is often used to explain the weakness of Green political powers in the states of the “New Union”. At the same time, it is increasingly difficult to find a common denominator, as far as the results of the Greens’ activity in the “new” EU countries are concerned: in a few post-Communist countries the Greens managed to enter national parliaments, and even structures of government (the Czech Republic, Estonia), while in others – such as Poland – they have not yet found their place.

After 20 years of democratic transformation, the situation of Green political powers in Poland remains ambiguous. Over the recent years, there has been an apparent trend of absorbing environmental, freedom and equality views into collective consciousness and of a growing presence of certain green demands in the media and the political discourse. It seems that the demand for Green politics has been on the increase, which, nevertheless, does not translate into increasing popularity of Green movements and initiatives, or increasing support for the existing Green political powers. The only Green party currently active in Poland, Zieloni 2004, is practically absent from public debate, from public awareness and electoral preferences. Analysis of the Polish political scene after 1989 does not provide generally available data about the development of Green movements and initiatives, neither at present, nor in the last 20 years.

Our publication, devoted to the history and the present of the Green movements and initiatives created in Poland after 1989, fills this gap and attempts to find answers for the question about the future of Green politics. The publication stems from the research ordered in 2008 by the Heinrich Böll Foundation and coordinated by Przemysław Sadura. The research concerned the prevailing reception of Green ideas and perception of Green political powers by the Polish society. On its bases, the Author analysed the Greens’

chances of finding a permanent place on the Polish political scene.

The research results presented in the publication are embedded in a broader historical and geographical context. The publication is therefore a look – from a Green perspective - at the past 20 years of democratic transformation, and at the same time it “captures the moment”, constitutes a “shorthand report”

of the ongoing public discussion about Green initiatives and political powers in the Polish and the European context. The invited authors include sociologists, political scientists and journalists associated with Zieloni 2004, as well as observers of the Polish political scene unconnected with the Greens. Consequently, the publication manages to present several “shades” of Green, various perceptions of Green ideas and demands as well as different interpretations of their significance for modernising Polish and European politics.

Polish Shades of Green

5

Next to Ewa Charkiewicz’s reflections about the development of Green political powers and social movements close to them, the publication presents a text by Adam Ostolski analysing sources of differences and similarities between Green parties in the East and the West of Europe, as well as articles presenting Green policies regarding current issues and events in the Polish political and economic reality, such as Maciej Gdula’s text focusing on the local and the global dimension of the Greens, or reflections about Green modernisation by Edwin Bendyk. The self-image of Zieloni 2004, its current situation and perspectives of development are outlined by their co-chairpersons, Agnieszka Grzybek and Dariusz Szwed; Agnieszka Graff and Jacek Żakowski, in interviews conducted especially for the publication, concentrate on reasons for the currently limited popularity of the Polish Greens, and on their chances for emerging on the Polish political scene in the future.

The question whether there is a demand for Green politics, and whether Green political powers do stand a chance of entering mainstream politics, is an element shared by all the authors. The responses, though cautiously optimistic, discuss the barriers facing Green policies, originating from the development of the social and political situation in Poland, and from the development of the Polish Greens themselves. At the same time, they indicate possibilities of overcoming those barriers. In this context, the texts presented in the publication contribute to continuation and deepening of the discussion about the significance of Green politics for future modernisation of Poland – the discussion we hope to initiate with this publication.

Claude Weinber

Secretary General

Green European Foundation

Agnieszka Rochon

Director of the Central Europe Regional Office

of the Heinrich Böll Foundation

Brussels / Warsaw, December 2008.

6

1. Green politics in a

cal scene, and they await the emergence of “new

post-political society

players”. Their dream would be a party of “ideal-

ist people”, who “do not look for their own gain”,

Przemysław Sadura,

are well educated, have “ready ideas”, bring in “a

Agnieszka Kwiatkowska

breath of fresh air” - a “party full of new faces”. 1

Over the last 25 years, in the countries of old and

At first glance Zieloni 2004 seems to live up to

- after 1989 - new Europe, Green parties have

those characteristics. Its members describe

won a strong position. They have seats in parlia-

themselves as a group of people with different

ments, participate in government, have a strong

backgrounds who consider the following as their

representation in the European Parliament as

basic values: respect for human rights, abiding

well as in the authorities of the continent’s larg-

by the principles of balanced social, environmen-

est cities. So far, Poland has been a blank spot

tal and economic growth (Zieloni 2004, The Green

on the Green map of Europe. The objective of the

Manifesto). Therefore, in the Polish conditions,

research conducted by the Heinrich Böll Founda-

they can be considered a party with a new profile,

tion in cooperation with the ARC Rynek i Opinia

abiding by the principles of the Green Politics – the

research agency was to reveal the social recep-

ideology of the Greens worldwide. Their delegates

tion of “Green demands and ideas” and explain

to party congresses are far younger than activists

the reasons for the weak condition of the Green

of other parties (the average age of 32, compared

movements in Poland. The aim, therefore, was to

to 37-43 in other parties), there are more women

define the scope of political attitudes consistent

amongst them (40%, compared to 10%), and they

with the Green programme, and then to describe

are better educated: in 2008, as many as 80% had

the major actors implementing this programme.

an academic education.2 Among party members

The findings showed that none of the Green non-

there are academics, publicists, artists. Almost a

governmental organisations and social move-

half of them had earlier experiences with social

ments were credited by the respondents with

or political activity, mainly in non-governmental

being political actors. There are political parties

organisations. Thus Zieloni 2004 combines all the

perceived as “ecological”, though they have little

characteristics desired by voters. Why is it so dif-

in common with Green politics (Polish People’s

ficult for Zieloni 2004 to bring the party’s mes-

Party – Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe, PSL), as

sage across to a broader public?

well as those seeming to implement some of the

Green demands (Women’s Party – Partia Kobiet),

Until quite recently, fatalistic predictions that the

but one can hardly describe them as “ecological”.

Polish political scene would be defined in the long

Zieloni 2004 can be characterised as having the

term by a “principal division without a principal

largest share in the ecological political market,

difference”, could have seemed exaggerated. To-

as well as loyalty towards Green ideals. Unfortu-

day, the opinion about cartelisation of the politi-

nately, this might be its only claim to glory. Zieloni

cal system has become universally recognised.

2004 – the only Polish political party affiliated to

In the last parliamentary election, the entire

the European Green Party (EGP) – has not as yet

political range was reduced to two options: PiS

won any significant support, and operates on the

(Prawo i Sprawiedliwość - Law and Justice Party)

margins of political life. Hence, a new question

and anti-PiS. Voters were forced to choose “the

arose during the research: what are the chances

lesser evil”. The only parties left, apart from the

for Zieloni 2004 and other Green organisations to

battling giants, are the SLD and the PSL, melting

join mainstream politics?

away, both merely managing to pass the election

threshold. None of the leading parties introduce

Political cartelisation and a thought embargo

fresh ideas, innovative concepts, new faces into

Polish political life. The parties currently outside

When asked directly, Poles do not conceal their

the parliament could do that, but the threshold

disappointment in the existing offer of the politi-

for entering the political system has been estab-

1 Qualitative research by focus group interview in July and August 2008 was conducted by the ARC Rynek i Opinia research agency, ordered by the Heinrich Böll Foundation. The respondents included students and persons from the generation of thirty- and forty-year-olds, declaring willingness to vote for a party devoted to protection of the environment. The research was conducted in Katowice and Warsaw. In the text, the quotes without reference are derived from the respondents’ opinions.

2 Questionnaire research conducted by Agnieszka Kwiatkowska at the three Zieloni 2004 congresses during the years 2004-2008; comparative data: Mirosława Grabowska, Tadeusz Szawiel, Anatomia elit politycznych, Institute of Sociology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw 1993.

Polish Shades of Green

7

lished at too high a level. This does not concern

Complaining about legal barriers, unfriendly me-

the required 5% support, but rather hundreds of

dia and an ignorant public is a constant repertoire

thousands of signatures required before submit-

of explanations offered by small parties in the

ting lists of candidates; a very limited access to

face of an election defeat. A political party must,

public and commercial media; not being quoted

more than anything, find a way to operate in the

in the polls; lack of financing from the budget;

prevailing conditions, and not deliberate about

and limitations concerning fundraising by public

the conditions which would suit it best. From this

collection. Thus even the most dynamic and in-

point of view, Zieloni 2004, as other organisations

teresting initiatives have little chance of putting

focusing on ecology, is not without a chance. En-

their message across. Partia Kobiet learned that

vironmental issues are becoming increasingly

painful lesson during the last election. The Polish

popular in Poland. At the moment, 15% of re-

political scene has become petrified: it is not the

spondents consider those issues among the most

economy, but politics, which proved to be the

important ones, and 25% of Poles declare a will

least innovative sector in our country.

to vote for a party with environmental protection

as one of its key programme elements. Zieloni

Not everything can be explained by the level of

2004 is the political brand most associated with

openness of the party system. Another problem

ecology, but the party utilises only a small pro-

is the voters’ reluctance to embrace new ideas.

portion of its “Green potential”. Is it possible to

Their awareness is shaped by the ideas present

reach for more?

in public discourse, which has, since 1989, been

constructed under the dictate of the powers of

Politics without politics

economic liberalism and cultural conservatism.

Anything beyond the thus created “normality”

Critics of liberal democracy indicate that its legit-

has been subject to Denkverbot – the thought

imising theory is flawed with the utopian vision of

embargo, i.e. the inability to go beyond the para-

politics without conflict. Eulogists of consensus

digm defined by the liberal-conservative hegem-

assume that unanimity is natural and that com-

ony. Stigmatisation of subsequent renegades has

petition breeds unnecessary and destabilising

been underway: feminists have been demonised,

conflicts. Is it only them, though? Such a suppo-

gays – turned into “Jews”, trade union members

sition would have to be based on the assump-

have been branded homo sovieticus, and envi-

tion that a post-political system operates without

ronmentalists persecuted as eco-terrorists or

post-political voters. Are citizens really weary

enemies of progress. Little surprise, that in such

of constantly choosing “the lesser evil”; do they

conditions – and with no established new social

eagerly await an opportunity to free themselves

movements, which in the West had been devel-

from the perception that modern politics offers

oping since 1968 – the combination of liberal

no emotions? The results of several recent elec-

outlook, environmentalism and social sensitivity

tions and opinion polls indicate otherwise.

presented by Zieloni 2004 proved too marginalis-

ing a juxtaposition to win broad recognition.

Twenty years of post-political democracy – with

a brief episode of populist backlash – have cre-

The conducted research indicates that a large

ated a post-political electorate. The voters, and

segment of Polish voters demands policies tak-

certainly the pro-environmental, middle class

ing into account the interests of the underprivi-

voters, are more appreciative of consensus and

leged, another group supports gender parity in

accord than of antagonism. Furthermore, they

political bodies, another still reckons that growth

declare to be happy, optimistic, open and flexible.

cannot take place at the expense of nature. How-

According to research by CBOS, the number of

ever, it proved problematic to isolate acceptance

such optimists is increasing consistently, regard-

for all three main elements of “Green identity”: a

less of whether it concerns satisfaction with life

pro-environmental attitude, liberalism as far as

(from about 53% in 1994 to 67% in 2007), general

world-views are concerned and socialism in the

living conditions (from 24% to 47% in the same

area of the economy. Poles are unable to com-

period), or income and financial situation (from

bine those dimensions into one, and they view the

9% to 24%). The Polish middle class is a post-

Green party as purely ecological.3

political Prozac generation. This does not mean

3 Based on a telephone poll ordered by the Heinrich Böll Foundation, conducted in May 2008 by the ARC Rynek i Opinia research agency, on a representative sample of 1,600 inhabitants of Poland. The quotes without reference are derived from this research.

8

that its members worry about nothing, but that

Not only do the young shun from defining them-

they look for solutions improving individual sat-

selves as “left wing” or “right wing”; they do not

isfaction. It is usually assumed that the potential

want to define themselves at all. They want “new

Green electorate are students from the largest

faces, but with experience”. They demand new

academic centres, but a poll shows that they are

subjects in public debate, but “without exaggera-

usually a bit older: thirty- and forty-year-olds

tion”. In their eyes, too strong ideals are suspi-

with academic education, living in large cities,

cious. One of the respondents mentioned ethical

whose interest in ecology stems from concern for

problems with eating meat, because, for exam-

quality of life for themselves and their children.

ple, “those same substances can be obtained

Consequently, we decided to include both seg-

from other sources”. Even in this case, he had to

ments in our focus group interviews.

add: “obviously, I would not opt for giving up meat

entirely”. Nothing can be done entirely, decisive-

Younger voters reckon that “at present, their in-

ly, definitely. The young want products deprived of

terests are not represented”. This is not the first

their substance – a “revolution without a revolu-

research reflecting young people’s sense of alien-

tion”, coffee without caffeine, crisps without fat

ation. The problem is, however, that students do

and politics without ideals.

not indicate any group interests they want repre-

sented by political parties. They do not see many

Do whatever you please

problems to be solved politically. An important

issue is environmental degradation, but counter-

The group of pro-environmental thirty- and forty-

acting it requires “a change of attitudes among

year-olds is different from students. Its members

citizens” (segregating waste etc.), and it “ought

can identify themselves as a generation (e.g. as

to be dealt with by non-governmental organisa-

the “do whatever you please generation”), they

tions”. There is little tolerance in Poland, and

have more defined views and are interested in

many groups experience discrimination: sexual

politics. Not only can they articulate their needs,

and ethnic minorities, women, the disabled. The

but they are capable of indicating the political in-

solution is, once again, a “change of mentality”,

stitutions they consider responsible for satisfying

which ought to be taken care of by the school.

those needs. This, however, does not mean that

they are an electorate of a profoundly idealistic

What party would they like to vote for? One “the

party. Slavoj Žižek would probably describe them

Church does not interfere with”, “combining ex-

as “liberal Communists”: “buy green, recycle...

perience with a young ideal”. They reckon “there

as if taking ecology into account justifies capi-

is no one to vote for”, “basically the same gobs

talist exploitation”.4 They believe excessive radi-

all the time”, and “there is a need for a party

calism to be inadmissible, but they set limits in

ensuring a political renewal”. Are they, indeed,

a different place: “introducing gender parity in

fed up with the status quo? Which party did they

the parliament is no radical idea”. It is worse with

vote for? The Civic Platform (Platforma Obywa-

the demands of gays and lesbians, towards which

telska, PO). Strange choice for someone looking

they feel instinctive aversion. A modicum of tol-

for a party distancing itself from the Church and

erance for all minority groups, equal rights for

promoting new ideas and people. They voted for

women, separation of the state and the Church,

the PO, because they were fed up with PiS (“I do

even taxing the latter, are obvious to them, to a

not identify with the party, I just chose the lesser

certain extent. They support liberalisation of the

evil”), or by way of a “mechanical civil impulse”,

anti-abortion law, they would welcome punish-

according to the principle that it is better to vote

ment for doctors illegally refusing to perform

for an imperfect party than not to vote at all. They

abortion or prenatal tests, they demand introduc-

are not happy with the PO’s actions, they criticise

tion of sexual education into schools.

its passivity, nondescriptiveness, and indistinct-

ness. However, when asked about characteris-

Protection of the environment is very important

tics discouraging them from voting for particular

and it requires changes in political institutions,

parties, next to too much leadership and bar-

as well as in attitudes. Political institutions, “the

ratry, they quote... “too much distinctness” and

entire chain: local authorities - the parliament –

“radicalism”.

the government”, ought to get involved in protect-

ing the environment, improving the situation of

4 Slavoj Žižek, W obronie przegranych spraw [In Defence of Lost Causes], Wydawnictwo “Krytyki Politycznej”, Warsaw 2008, p. 396.

Polish Shades of Green

9

women and improving the quality of public serv-

Abeyance or mimicry

ices. The lack of a pro-environmental policy is a

symptom of the country’s backwardness, since

There is no sign of an ideological earthquake

“all those technologies, e.g. plastic bottles, ar-

coming to Poland in the nearest future. Even if

rived in Poland at the very time everybody else

the liberal-conservative Civic Platform and the

was switching to glass (...), we remain... two steps

conservative-liberal Law and Justice Party do not

behind”. Therefore, development of a green econ-

permanently monopolise political life, we may

omy and energy production is a key issue, though

have to wait a very long time for the dream of

it must serve growth and modernisation. The state

“May ‘68” to become reality. Some political cir-

ought to simultaneously support development of

cles, aware of the political realities, have geared

renewable energy sources and atomic energy,

themselves towards long organic work and

since “everybody around is doing it, and we are

struggle for the language. They are recovering

the only ones fearful of it for some reason”, with

the public sphere dominated by neo-liberal dis-

a “trauma after Chernobyl”. “Environmentalism”

course, they are introducing left-wing language

of this group is shallow and conformist (they want

and endeavouring difficult play with the main-

glass bottles and atomic energy plants, because

stream media. They do not mind that some peo-

people have them in the West), but it may trans-

ple consider them to be intellectuals stupefied by

late into electoral preferences.

Marxism, while others think them traitors of the

revolution.

Although pro-ecological attitudes and the liber-

al outlook of the present thirty– and forty-year-

A political party’s situation is more difficult. It

olds bring them very close to Zieloni 2004, there

cannot “for a time” finance itself from publish-

seems to be less convergence as far as views

ing books, to later take power with the hands of

about the economy are concerned. At best, the

their readers. In order to exist in the media, a

respondents show moderate sympathy for so-

party must have support allowing it to enter the

cial-liberal solutions, such as development of

parliament and local authorities. Consequently,

public services. High quality of medical services

organisations like Zieloni 2004 are facing the al-

seems to bear the most significance for them.

ternative between abeyance and mimicry.

They support higher contributions towards the

state health service, but in case there is no per-

What becomes of a movement, which at a given

ceivable improvement, the system “should be pri-

moment wins no recognition for its ideology? Does

vatised, so that we do not pay twice”. Similarly,

it die? It may do so, but equally often it enters a

pro-family policy ought to be based on developing

state of abeyance, as described by theoreticians

the childcare infrastructure, rather than on one-

of social movements. Failed ideologies “go un-

off benefits. Shortage of childcare, preschools

derground, where, invisible to the authority, they

and playgrounds “discriminates women and par-

can survive and be reborn in new forms”.5 As one

ents”. The solutions for social and economic is-

researcher of the American feminist movement

sues should satisfy the middle class and the hard

wrote, “abeyance is a stand-by mode in which

working people, meanwhile “social services are

movements operating in an unfavourable politi-

not preoccupied with people with low income, but

cal environment remain, thus ensuring continu-

with the dregs of society!” It is better to ensure

ity between subsequent stages of mobilisation”.6

fair earnings (e.g. by raising the minimum wage)

An organisation in abeyance becomes restric-

than to pay out unemployment benefits. All this

tive and exclusive. It strives to preserve “purity”

should be taken care of by political parties and

and “faith” to ideology. In Poland, this situation

the government. The respondents believe that

concerns many left-wing, anarchist and femi-

citizens should have an opportunity to vote for

nist organisations. Under the dictate of a single

politicians who would see to that, but they have

truth, other views may survive only inside an elite

no intention of personal involvement. What they

avant-garde of the chosen ones. Without the peo-

want most, is “peace and quiet”.

ple who create them, there would be practically

no hope of survival for alternative scenarios. At

the same time, those groups deprive themselves

of an opportunity to influence their environment.

5 George Rudé, Ideology and Popular Protest, Pantheon, New York 1980, p. 37.

6 Verta Taylor, Social Movement Continuity: The Women’s Movement in Abeyance, “American Sociological Review”, 54/1989, p. 761.

10

They can but wait in hope that in the future, po-

of creating an election programme ahead of the

litical circumstances will make the public more

changing attitudes of the Poles, observe those

perceptive of their demands. Zieloni 2004 might

changes and decide, how far to move forward in

follow this path, trying to preserve the Green ide-

a given moment. The mimicry can, and should be

ology for future generations.

accompanied by the work of organisations and

institutions preserving “Green ideology” in its

Another possibility is a reversal of the cyni-

pure form, and of groups transforming the public

cal strategy employed since 1989 by the post-

domain and discourse in accordance with the in-

Communists. Just as the SLD (Sojusz Lewicy

terests of the present and the future generations.

Demokratycznej - Democratic Left Alliance) pre-

In such case, the party itself would not be forced

tended to fight for ideals while fighting for power,

to give up on its “Green core”, but to cut the Green

one can pretend to fight for power while actually

election programme to the shape acceptable for

fighting for ideals. In its election campaigns, the

post-political voters.

SLD deceived gays and lesbians with promises of

protecting their civil rights, proclaimed a struggle

for reinstating the women’s right to decide about

Przemysław Sadura – sociologist and publi-

motherhood, promised to stand for the economi-

cist. Member of the editorial team of “Krytyka

cally deprived. Having won the election, however,

Polityczna”.7 Lecturer at the Institute of Soci-

the SLD returned to its consistent defence of the

ology of the University of Warsaw, where he

“abortion compromise”, to reciting papal encyc-

presented a PhD thesis on the breakthrough

licals and repeating the mantra about “the mar-

of 1989 in Central and Eastern Europe in the

ket always being right”. The pretence of idealism

context of the theory of revolution. His fields

masked the party’s post-political nature.

are sociology of politics (the issues of ideology,

social movements), sociology of education and

What would happen if Zieloni 2004 pretended to

the issues of class differentiation. He conducts

be post-political, thus masking some of their ide-

social research for non-governmental organi-

alism? Could the less popular demands be dis-

sations and public institutions.

guised for the time of electoral campaigns? Could

they promise improving quality of public services

Agnieszka Kwiatkowska – sociologist, political

to the level satisfying the middle class, instead

scientist. PhD student at Department of Sociol-

of implementing social justice; delay fighting for

ogy of Politics of the Institute of Sociology of the

the rights of sexual minorities, and instead move

University of Warsaw. She is currently prepar-

gender equality to the forefront; substitute un-

ing a PhD thesis on the post-materialist trend in

equivocal protest against construction of atomic

Polish politics. Her fields are sociology of new

power plants with promoting energy efficiency

social movements and sociology of politics.

and development of renewable energy? Instead

7 „Krytyka Polityczna” (“Political Critique”) is a quarterly left-wing journal founded in 2002. „Krytyka Polityczna” also organizes open discussions and other projects related to politics, society and culture. More: http://www.krytykapolityczna.pl/About-us/menu-id-101.html (Editor).

Polish Shades of Green

11

2. Between East and West

council );8 in Great Britain since the early 1970s

Adam Ostolski

(the PEOPLE party, a predecessor of what is

now the Green Party of England and Wales, was

When Green parties were created in many coun-

created in 1973). Each country had its specific

tries of Western Europe at the turn of the 1970s

character. In England, the symbolic beginning of

and 1980s, their founders had already had the

the new social movements was the first Easter

experience of over two decades of protest move-

March (1958) against nuclear armament; in Hol-

ments. Pacifist, ecological, feminist, anti-nu-

land, freedom movements came to the forefront;

clear, human rights, animal rights movements,

in Germany, a special role was played by set-

which were being created since the late 1950s,

tling the issues with the generation of fathers

were described as the “New Left” or the “new

and their involvement in Nazism; in France the

social movements”. Right from the beginning

restrictions on sexual freedom of young people

they were characterised by a loose structure, or

and students became most symbolic. Opposi-

at least by suspicion towards hierarchic forms

tion against the war in Vietnam, intensifying with

of organisation (such as a political party). Those

every report of American war crimes, was glo-

movements were created around concrete focal

bal. All over the world, there was discontent with

points of public discontent (the war in Vietnam,

authoritarianism of the “Old Left” (mainly Com-

male domination, the arms race, restrictions on

munists), and its capitulation to the status quo

sexual freedom, nuclear power plants, experi-

and gradual abandonment of ambitious projects

ments on animals, etc.), and, at the same time,

of social change (mainly Socialists).

they built ambitious visions of a better world. Al-

though their actions were international and went

Green parties did not appear in a vacuum, but

against geopolitical divisions - East vs. West, or

within a historical context rendering their emer-

global North vs. South - initially they resulted in

gence natural. Furthermore, they were an an-

the formation of Green parties only in the West.

swer to the depletion of utopian energy of the

1960s and 1970s. Some social movements lost

From protest movements to Green parties

their universal character, turning towards narrow

“identity politics”. Part of the activists withdrew

By founding political parties, the Greens gave new

from political involvement, assuming individual-

meaning to demands made by those movements.

ist strategies – a healthy lifestyle, private busi-

The aim was not only to act more effectively for

ness, development of personal potential and so

social change, but to create a new, lasting for-

on. Others, trying to urge the arrival of the revo-

mula, combining the multitude of social demands

lution, turned to terrorism. The Greens believed

in a single keyword of “Green politics”. The idea

that each of those routes was a dead-end. To

of Green politics made it possible to put several

those fascinated with terrorism and violence, they

focal points of protest into one, and to combine

answered that social change cannot be forced; as

different (though not necessarily contradictory)

Rudi Dutschke put it,9 it is necessary to undertake

dreams of a better world.

a “long march through the institutions”. To those

who chose individual careers, they responded

Green parties referred to social movements not

that the answer to social problems – the environ-

only at the ideological level, but they used the or-

mental crisis, the arms race, oppression of wom-

ganisational experiences of those movements as

en – is not individual “therapy”, but joint political

well. In some countries social movements took

action aimed at changing the coordinates of the

part in elections, most commonly local ones –

human world. Finally, to the oppressed groups

in Holland, as early as the 1960s (the Amster-

(women, sexual minorities, people subjected to

dam Provos had their representatives in the city

racial discrimination) they proposed - contrary

8 Provos – a counter-culture movement operating in Holland in the mid 60s. Their actions involved mainly the creation of White Plans

– reform projects aimed at bringing the institutions of power closer to everyday needs of people – as well as organisation of peaceful happenings provoking the police to use violence. The continuation of the Provos movement was the Kabouters’ Party. See: Aldona Jawłowska, Drogi Kontrkultury (The Ways of Counterculture), Warsaw 1975. On other counter-culture movements around the world see: Rok 1968 – 40 lat później. Marzenie o wykonalności zmian [1968 Revisited – 40 Years of Protest Movements], Warsaw 2008 and Rewolucje 1968 (The 1968 Revolutions), Warsaw 2008.

9 Rudi Dutschke (1940-1979) – legendary leader of German new social movements, one of the leaders of SDS (Sozialistischer Deutscher Studentenbund) and Non-Parliamentary Opposition. He formulated the concept of “march through the institutions”, and shortly before his death was involved in creation of the German Green Party. On new social movements in Germany, see: Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Rüdiger Damman (ed.) Maj ’68. Rewolta [1968. Die Revolte], Warsaw 2008.

12

to “identity politics” – a manner of articulating

Marcin Zaremba12), contrary to popular clichés

their claims, which would not trap them within

about 1968 as a generation experience of the in-

narrow “group interests” and lobbying, but which

telligentsia, the rebellion of young workers was

would place them within the universal horizon

at least as widespread as the protests at univer-

and turn them into a link in a broader project of

sities. In the West, as well as in the East, political

social change.

articulation of consumers’ interests and needs

took place, though only in the market economy of

Is there a place for Green politics in the countries

the West the consumers appeared clearly as the

of Central Europe today? The answer requires

subject of rights and a political actor.

asking a few more questions. What was the expe-

rience of the 1960s new social movements for the

More than anything, the sources of discontent –

inhabitants of Central Europe? Why were there no

particularly disillusionment with conformism of

Green parties to the east of the iron curtain? Can

the Old Left – were similar all over the world. On

the Greens today relate to the rebellion and the

the ideological level, the new social movements

hopes of the 60s, as they do in the West? If so –

were based mainly on certain schools of libera-

how? If not – what traditions can they relate to?

tory Marxism. In the West, it was the works of the

Frankfurt school, in the South – anti-colonial lit-

From revisionism to democratic opposition

erature, and in the East – revisionism. The most

important works of the latter school include The

The dominating narrative in Central Europe today

New Class (1957) by Milovan Đilas, and Open Let-

emphasises the profound distinction between

ter to the Party13 (1964) by Jacek Kuroń and Karol

protest movements on both sides of the iron cur-

Modzelewski. Letter to the Party was soon trans-

tain. When young people in the West were un-

lated into several languages; it inspired the activ-

healthily fascinated with Marx, Mao and Marcuse,

ists of the Prague Spring and was a bestseller in

the Poles - it is said – related to Miłosz and Mic-

the Quartier Latin before the Paris May. There is

kiewicz.10 When western students dreamt about

no better proof of the rightful participation of the

democratic socialism, inhabitants of the Eastern

Polish opposition in the global circulation of ideas.

Bloc longed for liberal democracy. There is a grain

of truth in this tale - there have been differences

Obviously, in the 60s, certain differences in the

between the East and the West, right from the

political profile of protest movements on both

beginning - nevertheless its key thesis is false,

sides of the iron curtain were already perceivable

mainly because it interprets the entire past of the

(I shall come to them later), but the breakthrough

protest movements in the East and the West via

took place in 1968. In the West, it was the cul-

the differences crystallised in the 1970s.

mination of the protest; in the East – a definitive

closure of a certain era. At that very moment, the

The 60s were an era of universal rebellion, for-

paths of social movements diverged. Throughout

tuitously described by Immanuel Wallerstein as

the 70s, western social movements built their in-

a “revolution in the world-system”.11 At the time,

stitutions, without changing their objectives or

protest movements from all over the world had

their identity. In the East, the March events and

a lot in common. Their participants presented

the anti-Semitic campaign in Poland, as well as

a similar social profile. In the 1960s, across the

the Warsaw Pact intervention in Czechoslovakia,

globe, the youth became an independent politi-

put an end to dreams about internal reform of

cal actor, and universities, lecture halls and cam-

socialism. Gathering strength after the calamity,

puses – a political battlefield. The mobilisation

opposition movements had to define their iden-

was not limited to students, it concerned old-

tity anew and, in a way, start from scratch. Al-

er pupils and young workers as well. In Poland

though contacts across the iron curtain prevailed,

too (as shown by the latest archive research by

even deepened, the paths of social movements

10 Czesław Miłosz (1911-2004) - a Polish poet, prose writer and translator; in 1980 he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Adam Mickiewicz (1798-1855) - one of the greatest Polish Romantic poets (Editor).

11 Immanuel Wallerstein, Sharon Zukin, 1968 – rewolucja w systemie światowym [1968, Revolution in the World-System], „Krytyka Polityczna”, 6/2004.

12 Oral information from M. Zaremba (Editor).

13 In the Open Letter to the Party (1964) Kuroń and Modzelewski (the democratic leaders of the opposition in the People’s Republic of Poland) criticized the new ruling and bureaucratic class in Poland. They suggested replacing the existing system with a “workers’

democracy”, including organizing a referendum according to which major decisions concerning the distribution of national income would be made. Both Kuroń and Modzelewski were sentenced to three years in prison for writing the Letter (Editor).

Polish Shades of Green

13

went further and further apart. When in the West

gays were never politically articulated. The oppo-

movements turned into institutional Green par-

sition movements in Central Europe, focused on

ties, in the East the disaster of 1968 gave rise to

fighting “totalitarianism”, missed out on two im-

the slowly emerging “democratic opposition”.

portant lessons: decolonisation and the internal

critique of liberal democracy.

What was the democratic opposition? Primarily –

a sign of abandoning the dreams about democrat-

There were many contributing factors. As far as

ic socialism in favour of the language of human

gender relations were concerned, women in the

rights, and particularly formal political freedoms.

East experienced paradoxical benefits of forced

The critique of a multitude of relations of power

emancipation. The issues, which in the West had

was substituted with a sharp differentiation be-

become a spur for the feminist movement – push-

tween totalitarianism and democracy. Broad plat-

ing women out of the job market, ban on abortion

forms of opposition against the system, stepping

(e.g. in France, the US and Germany until the mid

beyond the division between Right and Left, were

70s), and sometimes even contraception (the US

created in several countries in Central Europe. The

and France), limited civil rights of married wom-

supporters of the Czechoslovak Charter 77 had in

en (in France) etc. – did not concern women in

their ranks Socialists, Liberals and Christians. In

the countries of the Eastern Bloc. After Stalin’s

the Polish context, Adam Michnik called for cross-

death, abortion was legal in most of those states,

ing the “chalk circles” between the “secular Left”

and women were encouraged by the state to take

and the Catholic Church, and for the creation of a

paid jobs. On the other hand, women’s problems

joint front against the totalitarian authorities (The

specific to real socialism, mainly working “two

Church and the Left, 1977). At the same time, lan-

jobs” (at home and at work), were seen as the

guage of political analysis gave way to language

disadvantages of living under the economics of

of morality – “apolitical politics” (György Konrád),

shortage. Only years later was it acknowledged

“power of the powerless” (Václav Havel), the ethos

that they were also the results of patriarchal divi-

of “authenticity” (Adam Michnik). The blurring of

sion of labour in the society.

political differentiation and declared repugnance

towards the authorites were accompanied by the

As far as environmental questions were con-

creation of a shared oppositional identity based

cerned, in the West they were connected with a

on the concept of “decency”, and the sense of

critique of thoughtless industrialisation and con-

moral advantage over the opponent. One of the

sumer society. Social pressure to consume a lot

first diagnosticians of this situation was Leszek

and conspicuously was questioned, and demands

Kołakowski. In his essay Jak być konserwatywno-

were made to acknowledge the consumers’ right

liberalnym socialistą? Katechizm (How to Be a

to durable, ecological goods improving their qual-

Conservative-Liberal Socialist? A Credo, 1978) –

ity of life. In the East, the critique of industrialisa-

with its ironic motto: “Return forward, please” –

tion meant mainly demands to change priorities:

he warned against the attitude leading to erosion

from heavy to light industry, from forceful mod-

of great political projects as “capable of living, and

ernisation measured in tonnes of mined coal and

mutually exclusive options”.14

smelted steel – to consumer needs of the public.

In spite of certain similarities, this critique had

What was lacking in the East

totally different meaning in the western “socie-

ties of plenty” than in the eastern “economy of

In this climate it was difficult for social movements,

shortage”. In the East, the environmental costs of

which might have developed into Green politics, to

modernisation were never an issue. Not because

emerge. Nevertheless, some sources of those dif-

expert knowledge was lacking, but because it did

ficulties lay further in the past. The movement of

not translate into political action. Oskalpowana

the 1960s and 1970s in Central Europe was, right

Ziemia (Scalped Earth) by Antonina Leńkowa,

from the start, devoid of the cultural aura it had in

published in 1961, unlike Silent Spring by Rachel

the West; issues like women’s rights, the ecologi-

Carson,15 which was published a year later, did

cal crisis or social marginalisation of lesbians and

not become a bible of a social movement.

14 Leszek Kołakowski, Czy diabeł może być zbawiony i 27 innych kazań [Can the Devil Be Saved and 27 Other Sermons], London 1984, p. 205.

15 Rachel Carson (1907-1964) – American biologist. Her book, Silent Spring, published in 1962, warned against the effects of environmental degradation, e.g. resulting from use of pesticides. The book is widely considered as an impulse for creation of ecological movements. Silent Spring was never translated into Polish, but it was mentioned in Henryk Sandner’s preface to the third edition of Oskalpowana Ziemia (The Scalped Earth) by Antonina Leńkowa (Warsaw, 1971).

14

Another difference concerned the significance

treated as an ambiguous ally; in the 90s, they

of counter-culture. Countercultural motifs were

became a dead weight “full of claims” to the

present in Eastern Europe, but in the process of

young democracy, and an obstruction en route

arriving from the West they lost their political

the “return to normalcy”. Analysing the attitude

edge. Some people might have grown cannabis

of former opposition elites towards environmen-

on their allotment, others – used a salt-cellar

tal protests (Czorsztyn, St. Anna’s Mountain), or

shaped like a penis, and Tibetan bells.16 However,

towards imprisoned conscientious objectors

neither the authority, nor the opposition made

(the case of Roman Gałuszka), the best we find

that into a political issue. True political stakes

is indifference. In the early 90s, a part of those

here concerned national traditions of individual

elites became involved in civil committees de-

societies, rather than cultural novelty. Simulta-

manding a referendum on the planned ban on

neously, in the West the situation was quite the

abortion, but most accepted the sham compro-

opposite: both governments and protest move-

mise of almost complete prohibition on termina-

ments chose to wage war in the sphere of cul-

tions. The imagination shaped in the struggles

ture. The symbolic figure here is John Sinclair,

of the 1970s did not include the notion that is-

arrested in 1969 for handing two joints to a police

sues like the environment, pacifism or feminism

agent, and sentenced by an American court to 10

could be genuinely important, and that even in a

years in prison. Two and a half years later, John

liberal democracy human rights can sometimes

Lennon stood in his defence composing a special

be violated.

protest song, and Sinclair was released.

Perhaps the differences between West and East

Similarly, the issue of gay rights did not have a

were most apparent in the context of the Ameri-

political dimension in the East. In the countries

can attack on Iraq, when a vast majority of former

where sexual acts between men were not pros-

members of new social movements in the West

ecuted, such as Poland (since 1932) or Czecho-

opposed the war most decisively, while the vast

slovakia (since 1961), they remained a private

majority of their peers from the East supported

matter. In other countries, such as the USSR or

the war. Both have come a long way since the

Cuba, they were prosecuted, nevertheless con-

60s, turning from rebels to elites (political, jour-

sidered a pretext for suppressing the opposition

nalistic and cultural). In the year 2003, however, it

by a totalitarian regime, rather than persecution

became apparent that the iron curtain still sepa-

of a sexual minority. At the same time, in most

rates their visions of the world.

western countries (except France), strict laws

prevailed, often leading to dramatic situations.

What is to be done?

In 1954, an outstanding mathematician Alan Tu-

ring committed suicide, having been sentenced

The conditions are not conducive to breaking the

by a British court to hormonal “therapy”, after

impasse. Conditions for Green politics in Central

which he begun to grow breasts. Oppression

Europe were best at the turn of the 1980s and

resulted in resistance, and eventually – rebel-

1990s. It was the time of strong civil movements

lion. In June 1969, patrons of the Stonewall bar

– environmental, pacifist, anti-nuclear. The early

in New York stood up to the police, which led to

80s saw the beginnings of the feminist and the

several days of riots, and marked the beginning

gay and lesbian movements. The environmental

of an open LGBT movement. Gays and lesbians

crisis was more perceivable in the lives of ordi-

on the other side of the iron curtain had no ana-

nary people than ever before (or after). Closing

logical experiences.

down the nearly finished nuclear power plant in

Żarnowiec was a success, which could have con-

More important than the sources of those differ-

stituted a basis for further struggle. Unfortu-

ences, are their long-term consequences. When

nately, after the initial success, several failures

finally new social movements emerged in Cen-

followed, social movements transformed into in-

tral Europe (i.e. in the mid-1980s), they found

creasingly apolitical non-governmental organisa-

little understanding among the generation of

tions and the political scene and public discourse

1968, who were now leaders of the opposition.

were divided between the heirs of the former re-

All through the 80s, those movements were

gime and the former opposition.

16 See: Kwiaty we włosach (Flowers in the Hair), Krystian Lupa in an interview with Katarzyna Bielas, „Duży Format” 22/2008, supplement to „Gazeta Wyborcza”, 9/6/2008; Kinga Dunin, Zadyma (Riot), „Krytyka Polityczna”, 6/2004.

Polish Shades of Green

15

Under such circumstances, it is neither possible

alism (Rykoszetem. Rzecz o płci, seksualności

to follow the path of Green parties in the West,

i narodzie – Ricochet: on Gender, Sexuality and

nor to copy their present formula of Green poli-

Nation), Bronisław Świderski (Gdańsk i Ateny -

tics, which had been emerging for several dec-

Gdańsk and Athens) – about the role of the intel-

ades. There is no shortcut. Green politics in

ligentsia in the process of transformation, and its

Central Europe must grow out of local responses

influence upon the evolving democracy. Each of

to local and global challenges, both organisation-

those books is different, but each, in its own way,

ally, and in terms of ideas. Three questions seem

blazes a trail for Green politics.

most important in this context.

The largest challenge facing the Greens today is

Firstly, just as the Green parties in the West grew

the rethinking of the fundaments of Green poli-

out of political experience of social movements,

tics. The difficult situation of Green parties in

the Greens in Central Europe must base their

Central Europe is, paradoxically, an opportunity.

politics on actual social background. The prior-

Green politics has never been a catechism, a set

ity should be to recognise real hot spots of social

of ready answers for the world’s troubles, but

discontent, particularly those ignored by the par-

rather a way of painstakingly connecting various

ties of the political establishment, and created by

social demands. The fundaments of Green poli-

people with various visions of a better world. There

tics, defined in the 70s, constituted an attempt of

is a need for an organisational alliance with social

progressive critique of the Western welfare states.

movements close to the Green politics (particular-

Today, we are dealing with advanced neo-liber-

ly with protest movements), and with trade unions.

alism, which, in Central Europe, is particularly

The simultaneous political professionalisation and

advanced. It is therefore necessary to recognise

tightening of links with social movements are a

the sources of social discontent, and redefine the

great challenge, but there seems to be no alterna-

Green dreams about a better world. In the 70s,

tive for the Greens in Central Europe.

the main issue was individual freedom, most of

all the right to authenticity and self-realisation.

The second challenge is finding the Greens’ own

Today, however, the main threat to freedom is not

tradition, particularly telling anew the history of

so much the persistence of tradition, but the risk

the Polish transformation. Today, Polish public

continuously created by the global market, which

life is dominated by the narrative about 1989 cre-

people have to face alone. That is why the Greens

ated by former oppositionists.17 In this tale about

– not just in Central Europe – ought to demand

Poland’s latest history there is simply no room for

the common good.

Green politics. Existence of a significant Green

party is neither needed, nor possible. That is why

it is important to create a narrative about the year

Adam Ostolski – sociologist, philosopher and

1989 from the perspective of ecologists, femi-

translator. In science, he represents the criti-

nists, pacifists and other groups whose voices

cal theory perspective, which combines re-

have been ignored. Great support for Green poli-

searching the society with active involvement

tics could come from an archive documenting the

in its change. In several publications, he indi-

history of those movements. Before this happens,

cated structural affinity between Polish homo-

it is worth referring to books by David Ost, Ag-

phobia and anti-Semitism. He co-initiated

nieszka Graff, Bronisław Świderski and Elizabeth

letters of intervention: The Warsaw Letter on

Dunn. David Ost (The Defeat of Solidarity) and

the attacks on protesters demanding toler-

Elizabeth Dunn (Privatizing Poland) write about

ance for LGBT movements in Kraków in 2004

transformation of labour relations and the chang-

(with Michał Bilewicz), as well as the letter

ing function of trade unions in the new situation;

opposing the erection in Warsaw of a monu-

Agnieszka Graff – about exclusion of the voice of

ment to Roman Dmowski (in 2006). Member of

women from the emerging liberal public domain

Zieloni 2004 and the editing team of “Krytyka

(Świat bez kobiet – World without Women) and

Polityczna”.

about connections between gender and nation-

17 As indicated by research of Przemysław Sadura, this version is accepted by “post-Communists” as well. See: Przemysław Sadura, Ideologie elit III RP (Ideologies of the Elites of III RP), in: Jacek Raciborski (ed.), Elity rządowe III RP. Portret sociologiczny (Ruling Elites of III RP. Sociological Portrait), Warsaw 2006.

16

3. The Green Finale of the

terms of programme, and politically. The number

People’s Republic of Poland

and variety of organisations, their political vis-

ibility and social influence of their environmental

Ewa Charkiewicz

slogans and ideas legitimised the experts partici-

pating in the negotiations of the ecology group.

I remember the late 80s as the time of alternative

The position of experts20 was enhanced by sev-

and Green intellectual ferment. In those days, I

eral pre-prepared studies of the Polish natural

derived my sense of cause from participating in

environment, including the endangered zones,

the creation of the ecological movement. Many

energy, transport, organic agriculture and par-

of my Green acquaintances at the time shared a

ticipatory democracy.

similar experience. In 1980s Poland there were

almost 200 local groups, organisations and na-

People who at the time identified with the eco-

tionwide networks.18 This movement, the politi-

logical movement could be divided into two rather

cal conditions of its emergence and its diverse

arbitrally defined groups, both aiming for similar

character (from the League for Protection of Na-

goals. Each of them questioned the status quo.

ture and the Polish Ecological Club made up of

The first chose conditions and quality of life as

experts, through counter-culture groups, to the

their starting point. Pure environment and healthy

“Freedom and Peace” movement), have been de-

people were the issues decisive for their identifi-

scribed in some detail in scientific publications,

cation with the movement, motivating them and

e.g. in books by Przemysław Czajkowski, Piotr

stimulating their activity. Striving for healthy food

Gliński or Józefina Hrynkiewicz.19 Many organi-

“without chemical additives”, pure air, healthy

sations founded in those times still operate, sev-

buildings, quality drinking water, and protests

eral of the movement’s animators still identify

against construction of the nuclear power plant in

with ecology as a philosophy of life, interdisci-

Żarnowiec or the dumping ground in Międzyrzecz

plinary knowledge and a social movement. Still

- those were some of the subjects of the Greens’

– with exception of events like the Rospuda pro-

concern in those days. A large proportion of eco-

tests or the activity of Zieloni 2004 – the ecologi-

logical organisations at the time assumed an anti-

cal movement today is politically invisible. In this

system position (though in different ways). Some

chapter, I would like to focus on the unique con-

blamed the destruction of the environment on the

ditions of those times, which turned the activity

“communists” and industrialisation identified with

of individuals and groups into a social movement

the PRL; others sought the sources of the envi-

- or, as Piotr Gliński put it, into a movement of

ronmental crisis in the culture, in various forms

public protest - as well as to analyse what be-

of relations of violence between people, and be-

came of the ecological movement of those days.

tween people and nature, as well as in the way the

Did it pass away with the People’s Republic of

economy operated. I remember we used to read

Poland (Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa, PRL)?

Fromm’s To Have or to Be?, Jungk’s The Nuclear

If not, what transformation did it undergo under

State, Adorno’s The Authoritarian Personality, the

the new political order?

Club of Rome’s report Limits to Growth, Mishan’s

The Economic Growth Debate. In time, many Polish

The ecological movement in the 1980s

publications appeared: from the reports of the Po-

land 2000 Committee – the Polish branch of the

Looking back, one might easily conclude that the

Club of Rome – to books like Człowiek przeciwko

project of state socialism, known today as the

sobie (Man against Himself) edited by Antonina

PRL, experienced a crisis of legitimisation and of

Leńkowa, and many other titles by Polish authors.

the economy in that decade. Nevertheless, in the

late 80s none of us were expecting sudden politi-

In Poland, as in the West, protests were under-

cal changes. It was the Round Table talks, which

way against installation of American Cruise rock-

allowed us to see such possibility, even if their ef-

ets and Russian SS-20’s. Reading the same books

fects were hard to predict. The ecological move-

and subscribing to the same ecological and paci-

ment was well prepared for those talks, both in

fist ideas brought us together with the Greens

18 Piotr Gliński, Polscy Zieloni. Ruch Społeczny w czasie przemian (The Polish Greens. A Social Movement in the Time of Changes), Wydawnictwo IFiS PAN, Warsaw 1996, p. 155.

19 Przemysław Czajkowski, Piotr Gliński, Józefina Hrynkiewicz – Polish scientists working on social issues (Editor).

20 About the participants and the negotiations, see: Ekologiczny „Okrągły Stół” po trzech latach (Ecological ”Round Table” after Three Years), “Biuletyn InE”, 1/1993.

Polish Shades of Green

17

from other countries. Sometimes, the contacts

tude and predilection for using critical knowledge

were close: the “Wolę Być” (“I Prefer to Be”)

of the society. They belonged to the counter-cul-

camps – which now we would probably describe

ture as well. The ecological movement of the

as summer schools, due to their educational

time was formed by three generations: the then

character – were frequented by environmental-

50 – 60-year-olds connected with the tradition

ists and eco-feminists from Italy, Sweden, Great

of environmental protection; the generation of

Britain (Greenham Common). Books and contacts

30-year-olds, whose life philosophy was formed

facilitated the creation of an environmental com-

under the influence of the counter-culture of

munity across borders, and commenced the proc-

1968, and the generation most widely represented

ess of constructing the ecological philosophy of

in the movement: people in their teens and twen-

life, without which the movement could not exist.

ties, opposing the consumerism of their parents.

The political point of reference was the conflict

The ecological movement of the 80s gained –

between the establishment of state socialism

from various sources - the knowledge about the

and the “Solidarity”. The ecological movement

state of the environment in Poland, including one

grew, among others, as a reaction to the escape

concerning particular problems and local con-

into private life, which took place after the in-

flicts. The “operational knowledge” was provided

troduction of martial law in 1981. Some partici-

by, among others, expert organisations, such as

pants were mobilised by the dream to deepen the

the Polish Ecological Club, the flagship project

“Solidarity” project (which was a type of human-

of which was the report on 27 ecological danger

istic and democratic socialism, or socialism with

zones in Poland. The report was in fact an envi-

a human face, which can be easily found in the

ronmental audit of the PRL (we could do with one

famous “21 demands of MKS”21) by the ecologi-

today). Many organisations collected information

cal perspective, or – in the case of the few peo-

and processed it into critical knowledge used in

ple interested in the subjectivity of women – by

local actions. “Wolę Być” decided to take a closer

the perspective of feminism. This also translated

look at production, transport and distribution of

into alternative social projects based on non-au-

sulphur; we met with decision makers, local and

thoritarian relations of power (one example can

university experts, we organised meetings and lo-

be the Green Federation’s manifesto, proposing

cal protests in Tarnobrzeg and in Gdańsk. We edu-

democreation22).

cated ourselves, as well as others. Similar actions

were undertaken in relation to the construction of

For very many of us lifestyle and the model of

a nuclear power plant. The projects most visible

inter-personal relations were an element of the

today are those connected with international cam-

shared “Green identity”. This particularly con-

paigns, e.g. with lobbying around the EU directive

cerned the younger generation of the movement.

on registration and evaluation of potentially toxic

Vegetarianism and dreams about setting up green

chemical compounds (REACH), or around the Con-

schools were common among us, we worked on

vention on Climate Change. They are easier to find

organic farms, were active in alternative culture

financing for. The reports in the past were of local

circles, talked about models of power relations

character and they satisfied local needs. I do not

within our groups and organisations. This part of

question the value of international projects – pol-

the ecological movement saw two symbolic en-

lution knows no national boundaries – neverthe-

emies: authoritarianism, and the resulting vio-

less, I would like to draw attention to the trajectory

lence against nature.

of the movement’s development, emphasising the

significance of its roots and of larger autonomy in

To avoid nostalgia, I would like to add that the po-

planning its actions. Without critical local knowl-

sition of the not particularly numerous ecological

edge based on people’s experience, the ecological

movement was decided not only by the movement

movement has little social influence.

itself, but also by the social resonance connect-

ed with broad environmental awareness, further

Large numbers of environmentalists not only

prompted by the Chernobyl disaster. Within indi-

shared their philosophy of life, anti-system atti-

vidual organisations, as well as between them,

21 “21 Demands of MKS” (21 postulatów MKS) were a list of demands issued on 17 August 1980 by the Interfactory Strike Committee (Międzyzakładowy Komitet Strajkowy, MKS) (Editor).

22 Democreation was understood as creating human communities, particularly local ones, but also within organisations. The concept signalised the necessity for profound respect for individual voice, consideration for minority views in the group decision-making process.

18

political and philosophical divisions existed, and

organisational work, bringing together people and

conflicts were as commonplace as cooperation.

ideas, and materialising those connections into

At the same time, shared participation in con-

new organisational forms. Even today, a straight-

crete actions facilitated the creation of a collective

forward registration in court does not suffice.

green identity. The plans to build a nuclear power

plant and a dumping ground for nuclear waste in

What has become of those people and organisa-

Żarnowiec in the latter half of the 1980s, influ-

tions? Some organisations did not survive, but

enced consolidation of the ecological movement,

even a superficial web search reveals organisa-

just as depriving women of their right to abortion

tional continuity and constant presence of peo-

by the parliament dominated by the post-Solidar-

ple active over the past 20 years. The ecological

ity Right and Liberals and fulfilling the wishes of

movement of the 1980s did not die, but was mar-

the Catholic Church prompted the development

ginalised and lost its public visibility. Its language,

of the feminist movement in the 1990s. The meet-

organisational model and conditions of operation

ings on energy policy were attended by Greens

underwent a transformation. A symbolic date for

wearing suits, punks and hippies.

the end of the ecological movement of the 80s can

be the moment, in which the Foundation for the

Also today, Rospuda23 has become more than

Support of Ecological Initiatives announced that

merely a protest against the destruction of a

due to financial reasons it would end the publica-

unique local natural habitat. Shared actions cre-

tion of “Zielone Brygady” (“The Green Brigades”).

ate a political “Us”. However, the emergence

The first magazine of ecologists, which had been

of this shared identity requires investment in

published since 1989, articulated and represented

awareness building, gathering of critical knowl-

the collective identity of the ecological movement,

edge, creation of a network of inter-personal and

combined ecology with political and social cri-

inter-organisational relations.

tique, and was one of the first places where ecol-

ogy and feminism met. It ceased to exist in 2007.

The ecological movement of the 80s operated

in different material conditions than today. Most

Rewriting history and political stakes

young people studied or worked and had a sub-

stantial amount of free time. People worked one

“The early 1990s were not too bad, there was an

job. Before the electronic technological revolu-

ecological sub-table (at the Round Table – E.C.),

tion, which sped up the pace of human life (as

which dictated certain sensible directions, and

well as circulation of products and money), eve-

everybody was hopeful about good protection

ryday life was slower, and we had more control

of natural values. With time, however, politics

over our time. A lot could be done without mon-

ceased to be interested in the problem” – said

ey. Costs of communication (from phone bills

Professor Roman Andrzejewski in an interview

to railway tickets) were lower than today. Local

for “Dzikie Życie”.24

community centres and schools provided free ac-

commodation for our activities. We did not waste

In the narratives about the totalitarian and back-

time on writing grant applications. Consequently,

ward PRL, and in subsequent reconstructions of

within three years the “Wolę Być” movement de-

the history of transformation, there is no place for

veloped into a network of 24 local groups. I re-

the ecological movement. Its activity and broad

member that as late as 1991, I would bring 120

influence do not fit the message about passive

dollars from Holland, and that would suffice for

victims of communism. The ecological movement

organising a week-long movement meeting for

was obscured by the powerful discourse of trans-

50 people. Nevertheless, no movement is cre-

formation as a passage from totalitarianism, pov-

ated spontaneously (as was suggested by Piotr

erty and backwardness, to the free market and

Gliński, who probably used the term in the sense

democracy. Although, as I said, there was an eco-

of “independence from the state”). A social move-

logical sub-table next to the Round Table where

ment is created from organisations or groups and

the representatives of “Solidarity” were seated

initiatives. Creating a group requires “invisible”

along representatives of the Church and the PRL’s

23 The Rospuda is a small river in north-eastern Poland. Around 2006 the river was threatened by planned construction of the Augustów bypass expressway, which was to cut across the protected wilderness area in the valley. After an intense campaign of protests in Poland and abroad and also counter-protests of the local community, the plans have been changed (Editor).

24 O świadomości ekologicznej Polaków (On the Ecological Consciousness of Poles) – interview with Professor Roman Andrzejewski by Marta Lelek and Janusz Korbel, „Dzikie Życie” (“The Wild Life”) 3/69, 2000, http://pracownia.org.pl/dzikie-zycie-numery-archi-walne

Polish Shades of Green

19

establishment, in the process of the first deal-

into an anti-communist movement, rather than

ing of power, the green perspective and the pro-

an anti-system one. Such an approach reduces

grammes constructed earlier were pushed into

the ecological movement and traps it in a histori-

oblivion. This was not without a reason, though

cal cage of political discourse. It obscures and

the reason had nothing to do with weakness of

prevents new questions: about changed patterns

the ecological organisations. The discourse le-

of production and consumption, about exiting the

gitimising the transformation had been produced

neo-liberal calculated take-over of ecology, in

on the basis of the ancient cultural narrative pat-

which the value of the environment is reduced to

tern about being exiled from paradise and then

its monetary dimension and shifted to individu-

returned to it. Hence, from the communist hell

als; there is no room here for old questions about

we must pass through the purgatory of transfor-

participatory democracy.

mation to finally end up in the free market Eden.

Within the framework of this discourse, only the

In the neo-liberal melting pot

PRL could be guilty of destroying the environment,

and the return to “Europe” (in inverted commas,

In the 1990s, particularly in their latter half, the

since the Europe of this discourse - disciplining

ecological movement and the language it used,

to neo-liberal transformation - is not real Eu-

the discourse and principles of organisation, be-

rope) was to automatically lead to fixing the prob-

gan to transform. It was not just in Poland that

lem. After all, paradise is a state of virginal purity.

the ecological movement, or at least its main-

If this is connected with temporary costs, then,

stream, entered into the orbit of neo-liberal

as one of Polish ministers of environmental pro-

policy of truth, and even participated in creating

tection put it before the Earth Summit, we must

it. In the early 90s, business and the state were

get rich first, and then we can afford to protect

criticised for ignoring or excluding environmen-

the environment. This statement, which was not

tal costs in business plans and calculations of

a scandalous excess, but something typical, re-

national income. In the neo-classical econo-

flects the mentality of political elites in modern

mists’ vocabulary and imagination, the environ-

Poland. It does, however, contain a grain of differ-

ment plays the part of a resource, or a dumping

ent truth: the incompatibility between the money

ground. In time, those costs were included into

chase and the cult of economic growth measured

national calculations, but it happened according

by flow of money in the economy (GNP), and the

to the principles of the economy, and in the con-

alternative projects of sustainable development.

text of a new discourse, which evaluated nature

through monetary calculations. Among global

Reconstructing history is a game of high political

examples are the reports by the World Bank, es-

stakes. Not so long ago, the ecological movement

timating the value of the environment.26 Nature

was mortified anew, this time as an accidental

has been transformed into a commodity, and the

victim caught in the line of fire in yet another po-

costs shifted to the final user (a consumer), while

litical war. Cezary Michalski wrote in his critique

all the burdens and limitations have been lifted

of the III Polish Republic’s founding myth about

from those who draw income from exploiting

victory over communism: “Polish society crawled

the environment. Along with the new discourse,

over to 1989 completely pacified and passive”.25

changes took place in the policy of environmental

In their struggle for power, the young right-wing

protection – from “command and control” to self-

generation must kill their fathers by re-writing

regulation by business, i.e. to management via

history to make room for themselves in the politi-

voluntary contracts, codes of conduct, principles

cal scene. In this confrontation, ecology (as a po-

of business ethics. With such management, the

litical project and inter-disciplinary knowledge)

mechanisms of verification of implementation of

is once again erased, not admitted to the new

the principles, and sanctions for violating them,

dealings of political power. Another opening in

are practically non-existent.

the same game is proposed by trackers/produc-

ers of sins from the Institute of National Remem-

Michel Foucault provides a valuable critical tool

brance, who resurrect the ecological movement,

for naming the problem of economisation of life

but re-write its history in a way, which turns it

and politics, by indicating that neo-liberalism

25 Cezary Michalski, Długie pożegnanie z „Solidarnością”. Krytyka mitu założycielskiego III RP o zwycięstwie nad komunizmem (Long Farewell to “Solidarity”. Critique of the Founding Myth of the III Republic of Poland about the Victory over Communism), „Europa”, supplement to „Dziennik”, 18-19/10/2008, p. 2-3.

26 Ismael Serageldin, Sustainability and the Wealth of Nations, World Bank 1996.

20

subjects all public goods and domains of public

those actions complement and enhance neo-

life to economic rationality, and a company be-

liberal trends of hyper-individualisation. Lobby-

comes the regulative ideal. The free market op-

ing – however useful – and communication via

erates as a permanent economic tribunal, which

celebrities has eradicated strategies of building

requires constant adaptation.27 While in the late

a social movement. At the same time, the opera-

90s the discourse of global neo-liberal govern-

tion of the ecological movement and other so-

ance was subjected to intense criticism, in Po-

cial movements is shaped, to a large extent, by

land the political conditions were not conducive

agencies of remote sponsors or global priorities,

to such critique. For example, criticising the “free

which redirect the operation of organisations to-

market” was ridiculed as communist nostalgia.

wards those priorities, while local priorities not

The neo-liberal transformation of the state and

suited to the agenda cannot obtain funding and

the economy was accompanied by analogical

fail to be implemented. Consequently, certain is-

projects of new subjectivity. Neo-liberalism gov-

sues or methods vanish from the ecological dis-

erns using freedom, authorising individuals to live

course, while others simply cannot be discussed

on their own account. Freedom is not a state or a

under the neo-liberal pressure.

right, but technology of power, used to transform

the society into a market. Socially orientated, i.e.

Changes have been emerging for some time now:

unpractical “suckers” from PRL are contrasted

the dictate of neo-liberal discourse of transfor-

with new individuals; practical, rich, always avail-

mation, which forced NGO’s into the realm of

able, always flexible, self-centred and capable of

philanthropy, charity and auxiliary work - since

fending for themselves. The measure of an indi-

politics belongs to political parties and critique

vidual’s value is their purchasing power, and the

is forbidden and useless – has weakened in the

new regulative ideals – a rich businessman and a

public imagination. Today it is possible to talk

rich businesswoman. In this context, the ecologi-

about the political airing, which shakes up the

cal movement in its 1980s version could either

old thinking habits. However, when windows are

preserve itself in niche organisations, or adjust

opened, one finds out that neo-liberalism has left

to the new order.

immense devastation in its wake.

Furthermore, neo-liberalism transformed princi-

A new beginning?

ples of organisation and relations of power within

organisations. NGOs replaced informal groups,

Every movement needs its own ideal. One of the

community spirit and social movements. Law-

obstacles for restoring the position of the ecolog-

makers and sponsors force non-governmental

ical movement (without the support of which no

organisations to operate on the same principles

Green party can enter the political scene), is the

as businesses. A board is responsible to spon-

lack of ecological and social critique of transfor-

sors, to a foundation council or to members of an

mation. With the exception of undertakings like

association, but it is not responsible for the state

the “Recykling Idei” magazine and website, new

of the environment to the people it is supposed to

alternative initiatives do not integrate ecology and

represent. The time and imagination of activists

feminism in their everyday operation. There is a

are effectively occupied by writing and reporting

number of detailed critiques, such as reports on

projects, analogically to business plans and profit

transport policy, but there is little analysis of the

and loss reports prepared in companies. Nothing

changes of patterns of production and consump-

is expressly forbidden, but there is only one path

tion, which would include social and environmen-

on offer. There is no room here for the common

tal effects. There is no Green critique of the free

good, just interest. Non-governmental organisa-

market excess, which transformed social move-

tions are forced to operate as representation of

ments and privatised the common good. Social

interest groups, equipped to compete for grants,

and ecological criticism is of local character and

as well as for political gains. Consequently, the

seldom gets paired off with criticism of the dem-

civil society is transformed into a market. This

ocratic deficits of the transformation, or rather

process is facilitated by leader training, which

of democracy serving as a spectacle to disguise

privatises the movement from within and turns it

private interests. The Polish transformation was

into a collection of individuals. Every movement

no particular historic exception, nor, as the neo-

needs leaders, the problem is, however, that

liberal–conservative myth would like to present

27 Michel Foucault, Naissance de la biopolitique. Cours au Collège de France 1978-79, Gallimard, Paris 2004.

Polish Shades of Green

21

it, a miraculous passage from totalitarianism

Ewa Charkiewicz – animator of the Ecologi-

to freedom, made possible by a few leaders of

cal-Pacifist Movement “Wolę Być” (“I Prefer to

the democratic opposition. The transformation

Be”; organiser of the first bicycle demonstra-

conforms to the processes of economic globali-

tion in Warsaw, in 1986. Since 1988 she has

sation - such as programmes of structural ad-

worked at universities in Holland, USA and

justment of the South, or restructuring of the

India. Coordinator of international networks

“old” OECD countries – and becomes one of its

and research projects concerning bases of

local forms. In Poland, too, the transformation

sustainable development, pro-environmental

took a neoliberal form. Those processes must

patterns of production and consumption; co-

be named and interpreted from the ecological

ordinator of External Gender Consultative

perspective. Without such analysis, it will be

Group of the World Bank. Author and co-au-

impossible to relate to social suffering, to slow

thor of books, including Women, Environment

down the process of destruction of nature and

and Sustainable Development. Towards Theo-

fundaments of life, to see the alternative paths

retical Synthesis (1994), Sustainable Produc-

of development, or to propose a political project,

tion and Consumption. Concepts, Policies,

with which broader masses might identify. Their

Actions (2001). Since 2005, director of Tomek

political invisibility was forced on the Greens,

Byra Foundation Ecology and Art, co-founder

and overcoming it will require a new, socially

of the Feminist Think-Tank.

positioned critical knowledge.

22

4. Zieloni 2004 – scenes from a

During their time in power (2001-2005), the Post-

long march

Communists (SLD-UP29) strayed from their left-

wing orientation and the ideals they proclaimed

Agnieszka Grzybek, Dariusz Szwed

during the election campaign. The government

identified as “the Left” conducted anti-welfare

The origins

policy (e.g. raising public transport ticket prices

for students or closing the Alimony Fund); aban-

Zieloni 2004 was created as a party of protest. It

doned the principle of the secular state, allow-

entered the political scene when the first symp-

ing the Catholic hierarchy to interfere with public

toms of crisis resulting from growing dissatis-

life; involved Poland in the war in Iraq; led pub-

faction with the course of Polish transformation

lic healthcare to the brink of collapse. All this

were beginning to emerge. Those symptoms co-

was combined with corruptive practices and the

incided with the commonly criticised rule of the

style of executing power, which finally resulted

Post-Communist Left.

in a dramatic fall of the ruling parties’ opinion

poll results, and, most importantly, discredited

The authors of Polish transformation allowed for

the politics and made people lose their trust in

escalation of unfounded economic and social ine-

its actors.

quality, which led to a sense that Polish democra-

cy does not give numerous social groups a chance

Disappointment in current politics and broken

to develop, condemning them to pauperisation,

election promises, criticism towards the post-

exclusion and no access to benefits of transfor-

1989 transformation benefitting only selected

mation. One such group were workers of large

social groups on unequal terms, inspired the

industrial plants, whom the transformation de-

idea of building the Green Party.

prived of their jobs; employees of the budget sec-

tor (teachers, doctors, nurses), who experienced a

This was not the first green project after 1989.

combination of deteriorating material status and

Since the beginning of the 1990s, environmental

declining prestige of their worse paid professions;

activists have made several attempts to create a

also women, whose rights were limited by the in-

Green party which would deal primarily with pro-

troduction of the restrictive anti-abortion laws at

ecological tasks and actions for the protection of

the beginning of the 1990s, and whose situation in

the environment. Interestingly enough, at the be-

the job market was far worse than the situation

ginning of the 1990s (e.g. during the local election

of men (higher risk of unemployment, lower pay,

of 1990) the questions raised by environmental-

difficult access to promotion, professional train-

ists won significant public support, although en-

ing etc.). Furthermore, public debate of the 1990s

vironmentalism itself was not perceived as a

was characterised by silent approval for the as-

political issue. The character of the Polish system

sumption that the costs of the transformation (so-

transformation, Balcerowicz’s “shock therapy”

cial, environmental, etc.) are not to be questioned,

and the resulting effects of economic reforms –

since they are inevitable and ought to be shared

mass unemployment, pauperisation of several

jointly by everybody. Hence all articulation of so-

social groups, diminished standard of living – led

cial conflicts (albeit burning underneath the sur-

to marginalisation of environmental issues, which

face of changes) was dismissed, as a demanding

were treated as a “luxury” that would only become

attitude and an obstacle in the way of changes.28

available after the completion of construction of a

Until 2004, Polish public debate was dominated

free market society. The situation was similar in

by the language of “return to normalcy”, which

the case of women’s rights, which had to be sac-

could not be questioned. Several sacrifices were

rificed to the primacy of building a free market.

made in the name of “Poland’s return to Europe”:

Due to that, and to internal divisions, the attempts

the accession to NATO and the European Union.

to create a strong political group able to effec-

According to the architects of this process, those

tively compete for votes failed.30 Eventually, many

aims were worth every price.

environmental activists withdrew from strictly

28 An excellent analysis of reasons for the defeat of the Left and the Liberals, and for the victory of the Right, who managed to employ the anger of all those unsatisfied with the shape of Polish transformation, was presented by American political sociologist David Ost, in his book The Defeat of Solidarity. Anger and Politics in Postcommunist Europe, Cornell University Press 2005.

29 The coalition of Sojusz Lewicy Demokratycznej (Democratic Left Alliance) and Unia Pracy (Labour Union).

30 Due to personal disagreements, in the 1991 parliamentary election the Greens presented two lists: Polska Partia Ekologiczna –

Zieloni (Polish Ecological Party – The Greens) won 0.82% votes; Polska Partia Ekologiczna – Polska Partia Zielonych (Polish Ecological Party – Polish Green Party) won 0.63% votes. Due to further splits, by 1995 there were as many as 17 green parties in Poland, but none of them managed to permanently retain public awareness.

Polish Shades of Green

23

political activity, while others got involved with

itics proved to be a closed circuit, in which it is

the Environmental Forum of the Freedom Union

very difficult for new political actors to emerge.

(Unia Wolności, UW).

The option of creating a political party won, and

Zieloni 2004 was finally registered on 24th Janu-

The key difference between Zieloni 2004 and

ary 2004. Its first co-chairpersons were, in parity,

the previous Green initiatives was a far broader

Magdalena Mosiewicz and Jacek Bożek.

range of values it wanted to refer to, and open-

ness to new, not just environmental, circles. The

Another fundamental dispute concerned not the

party was created with participation of activists

form of operation, but the programme pitfalls;

of environmental, feminist, human rights and

the issue of women’s right to decide about their

LGBT non-governmental organisations, but also

own body divided Zieloni 2004 into two fractions.

of members of political parties, mainly the Envi-

One of them opted for definite declaration of sup-

ronmental Forum of the former Freedom Union,

port for liberalisation of the anti-abortion regu-

as well as of the former democratic opposition –

lations, while the other was against referring to

the “Freedom and Peace”31 movement. Although

the issue in the programme. Finally, the Green

non-governmental organisations never officially

Manifesto - the programme document accepted

declared cooperation with the newly created par-

by the Founding Congress - contained the follow-

ty, the people participating in the Green project

ing stipulation: “(...) we are in favour of achiev-

included representatives of Klub Gaja, the League

ing the state in which the law does not regulate

for Protection of Nature, the Polish Ecological

the issue of abortion, leaving room for individual

Club, Amnesty International, the eFKa Women’s

decisions”, which resulted in withdrawal of some

Foundation, Campaign Against Homophobia etc.

of the founding members from further works on

It is important that the Greens won the support of

building the party.

renowned feminists (publicists, writers and activ-

ists), who were present at the Founding Congress

The Green Manifesto lists the following as the ba-

in September 2003, and who became founding

sic goals: “respect for human rights and abiding

members of the party: Kinga Dunin, Agnieszka

by the principles of balanced social, environmen-

Graff and Kazimiera Szczuka.32

tal and economic development, in particular: so-

cial justice and solidarity, civil society and state,

One of the most crucial issues which had to be

protection of the environment and its resources

solved by the founders of Zieloni 2004 was the

for future generations, equal status regardless

character of the new Green project. There was a

of gender and age, respect for national, cultural

debate about whether it ought to become a broad

and religious diversity, respect for the rights of

social movement, or rather the beginning of a new

minorities, non-violent conflict solution.” Zielo-

political party. This had been discussed right un-

ni’s programme was built around those princi-

til the beginning of the Founding Congress, which

ples and values, and the newly created party was

took place on 6-7th September 2003. Those who

to constitute an effective tool for securing them

opted for Zieloni 2004 remaining a social move-

in Poland – by its actions it wanted to return the

ment were of the opinion that people in Poland

moral and the civil dimension to politics.

were weary of politics, that they had lost their

trust in political parties and politicians, therefore

The non-governmental pedigree and strong links

– according to them – a movement would better

with social movements, as well as explicit expres-

secure implementation of Green objectives. On

sion of the rights of women and sexual minorities

the other hand, for those in favour of creating a

in the Green Manifesto, and combining them with

political party, the formula of a social movement

the philosophy of balanced social, environmental

was too amorphous, it lacked a strong core, defini-

and economic growth make it possible to draw a

tion and effectiveness. People needed a concrete

parallel with other West European Green parties,

initiative to get involved in. Few were aware of the

distinguished by their focus on post-material val-

legal and financial realities defining the frame-

ues and their new middle class electorate. It is

work of operation for political parties. Polish pol-

symptomatic that the emergence of Zieloni was

31 “Wolność i Pokój” (“Freedom and Peace”) – a social and political movement, opposed to the Communist regime, active between 1985 and 1992. It was initiated by a hunger strike in defence of a student imprisoned for conscientious objection. It conducted, among others, pacifist and pro-environmental actions, organising protests against the construction of the nuclear power plant in Żarnowiec.

32 Kinga Dunin, Agnieszka Graff and Kazimiera Szczuka – well known Polish feminists and activists (Editor).

24

unequivocally perceived by the Polish media

rights of sexual minorities), that they still cannot

as the arrival of a party of generational revolt,

obtain significant support of the voters. Those

and protesters against the petrified framework

commentators think that Polish society is still too

of political arrangements. We were interpreted

conservative and not ready for the vision of shap-

as a voice of the generation, which was to crack

ing a communal identity open to diverse outlooks

the “historical division between the post-Com-

and based on inclusion of Others and securing

munist and post-Solidarity parties, shaping the

full rights for them, as proposed by Zieloni. How-

politics”.33

ever, those demands, called “radical” by some,

include calling for social egalitarianism and jus-

From protests to the mainstream

tice, which in most EU countries has for years

been a part of mainstream politics.

From the very beginning, the programme of ac-

tion was supported by four pillars: 1) sustainable

Conservatism of the Polish society is up for dis-

economic and social growth, 2) human rights and

cussion, nevertheless it is true that we have not

women’s rights, 3) protest against war and use of

experienced a post-materialistic orientation typi-

force in conflict solution, 4) participatory democ-

cal for the turn of the 1960s and 1970s, when the

racy. We stood out from the so-called “grey par-

Green parties emerged in the West. The research

ties”, due to radicalism of our demands and our

of Polish General Social Opinion Poll in mid 1990s

taking to the streets, which was a reference to the

indicated that the Polish society was dominated

grassroot traditions of the movement. Apart from

by materialistic attitudes, and only 3.5% of re-

the first campaign, “To the Union for Change” and

spondents believed in post-materialistic values.

the later ones, “Green Transport” and “Stop Cli-

The voters were more interested in material is-

mate Change. Choose Green Solutions” – which

sues and problems of economic and social se-

promoted, respectively, transport policy consist-

curity, than in quality of life, sensitivity to human

ent with the principle of balanced growth and

rights or social and environmental dangers.

acting for protection of climate - one of the most

famous actions was the Freedom of Speech Day

The above factors certainly did contribute to the

organised in February and March 2005, when a

fact that Zieloni could not, as yet, manage to win

Polish court heard the case of Dorota Nieznal-

any seats, either in the European Parliament

ska.34 On the day of the trial, in Poland’s largest

(2004), the national parliament (2005) or in the

cities Zieloni organised pickets in front of court

local election (2006). An equally important - if not

buildings, protesting against the restricted right

decisive - obstacle are strong institutional bar-

to creativity and freedom of expression. In No-

riers resulting from the electoral law unfavour-

vember of the same year, we co-organised mani-

able to small parties, introduced in 1993 as an

festations of solidarity with Poznań in Poland’s 10

antidote for fragmentation of the Polish political

largest cities - a protest against the brutal police

scene. The 5-percent election threshold for par-

attack on the March for Equality and Tolerance in

ticipation in division of seats in elections of vari-

Poznań (the largest manifestation in Warsaw was

ous levels is less of a problem. The real obstacle

attended by over 2000 people). At the turn of 2006

is the necessity to collect signatures of support

and 2007, Zieloni, along with women’s and femi-

for candidates, without which it is impossible to

nist organisations, protested against an amend-

register a list of candidates in a particular con-

ment to the Polish constitution proposed by the

stituency.35 This means that before an election

far-right parties, aimed at introducing an abso-

campaign starts for good, a preliminary selection

lute ban on abortion.

takes place. In Poland, where social capital is the

lowest in the whole of the EU, people know little

Certain political commentators reckon that it is

about democratic mechanisms, are increasingly

due to the Greens’ radicalism – both regarding

sceptical about politics and politicians and are

the nature of their actions and their demands

afraid to sign a list of candidates, because they

concerning identity issues (e.g. women’s rights,

think this is synonymous with joining the party -

33 Amelia Łukasiak, Piotr Zaremba, Barwy Zielonych (Colours of the Greens) [in:] Newsweek Polska issue 44/2003, 2/11/2003.

34 The artist was charged with offending religious feelings with her installation Passion. After the first trial, she had been pronounced guilty and sentenced to community service.

35 In a European election the condition for registration of a list in a particular constituency is the collection of 10 thousand signatures of voters residing permanently in this constituency; in a national parliamentary election, the number of signatures is 5 thousand for the Sejm candidates and 3 thousand for the Senate candidates.

Polish Shades of Green

25

the condition to collect signatures favours large

at preventing fragmentation of the Polish politi-

parties. The mechanisms mean that the voters’

cal scene, and the Act on political parties of 1997.

choice is limited: a part of programme offers nev-

Certain political commentators go as far as talk-

er even reaches the voting stage.

ing of cartelisation and oligarchisation – Polish

politics is in principle a closed circulation block-

The Polish Greens are struggling with institutional

ing a possibility of entry for new political actors.

barriers making it difficult for them to enter the

The existing political parties share public sub-

public scene. On the other hand, they are trying to

sidies between them and are not interested in

overcome their image as a counter-cultural for-

allowing new participants onto the scene. And

mation promoting a particular lifestyle, rather than

although the intentions to regulate the political

a political party. They want to leave the fringes of

scene, to make it more predictable in order to

the counter-culture, and enter the mainstream.

allow for effective government can be consid-

While first green projects of the early 1990s fo-

ered right, nevertheless, as Adam Ostolski put

cused mainly on environmental issues, the activ-

it, “there is a difference between a thesis that

ity of Zieloni 2004 (at least in the first stage) was

a few less parties in the Sejm would be better,

dominated by freedom and identity issues (free-

and a thesis that the fewer parties in politics, the

dom of speech, liberalisation of the abortion law,

better”.37 Furthermore, the effect of consolidation

women’s rights, rights of sexual minorities). An

of the political scene is enhanced by the media

image of moral Left, a party of “gays, lesbians and

focusing solely on the parties leading in opinion

feminists” sticks to Zieloni in the media. Recently,

polls during election campaigns, and after an

mainly thanks to the defence of the Rospuda Val-

election - on the ruling coalition and the main op-

ley,36 raising the question of power safety, protests

position party.

against plans to construct a nuclear electricity plant

and installation of elements of a missile defence

Is Poland condemned to bipolarisation of the po-

system in Poland, the Greens managed to partially

litical scene, and has the Greens’ political offer no

change this previously one-dimensional image. A

chance to reach the electorate? Is there no room

definite success was linking the party with the civil

in Poland for a left-wing project? According to

movement for the protection of the Rospuda Valley.

some sociologists this division can be overcome,

Zieloni not only actively participated in the protests,

since the opposition PO-PiS38 is not able to artic-

but organised them as well (e.g. in February 2007,

ulate certain problems and conflicts important to

during the visit of Jose Manuel Barroso, president

people. This may be a chance for left-wing par-

of the European Commission), and used the insti-

ties.39 In support of this thesis one might quote

tutional path by submitting a petition to the Com-

the results of a poll indicating that the Poles

mittee on Petitions at the European Parliament,

would welcome a better left. Almost two-thirds of

and by cooperating with the Greens/EFA group at

the respondents stated that Poland needs a party

the EP. At the moment, Zieloni 2004 is building its

helping the poorest, the excluded, a party con-

image as a competent European party dealing with

cerned with equal chances for all citizens; over

key challenges of sustainable growth: integrating

a half of respondents reckoned that such party

the social, environmental and economic issues, as

ought to stand for the interests of hired workers,

in the case of the “Energy Efficiency Package” pro-

separation of the state and the Catholic Church

posed in October 2008.

and the rights of women and sexual minorities.40

Can Zieloni be the Polish New Left?

Since the only Left currently represented in the

parliament are the groups recycled after 1989,

Consolidation of the Polish political scene has

where the key role is still played by politicians

been advancing consistently since 1993 – since

active in Communist Poland and more interested

the introduction of the quoted election law aimed

in maintaining the status quo than in the crea-

36 The Rospuda is a small river in north-eastern Poland. Around 2006 the river was threatened by planned construction of the Augustów bypass expressway, which was to cut across the protected wilderness area in the valley. After an intense campaign of protests in Poland and abroad and also counter-protests of the local community, the plans have been changed (Editor).

37 Adam Ostolski, Czy polskiej modernizacji potrzebna jest polityka? (Does Polish Modernisation Need Politics?), unpublished article.

We would like to thank the Author for providing it.

38 Platforma Obywatelska, PO – Civic Platform, Prawo i Sprawiedliwość, PiS - Law and Justice.

39 Speech by professor J. Raciborski during the discussion panel “The Future of the Political Scene in the Eyes of Scientists”, in: Przyszłość sceny politycznej po wyborach 2007 roku (The Future of the Polish Political Scene after the Elections in 2007), Instytut Spraw Publicznych, Warsaw 2008.

40 A telephone survey for „Rzeczpospolita”, conducted on 3/4/2008 by GFK Polonia on a sample of 500 adults.

26

tion of a European progressive Left in Poland, the

brings higher support for Zieloni – e.g. the Green

Greens undertake a difficult task of positioning

list during the local election in Warsaw in 2006

their party “ahead” – according to Joshka Fish-

won the support of three times as many voters as

er’s maxim: “neither to the left, nor to the right,

during the European election of 2004. In the early

but ahead”. We substitute the Left-Right polari-

election of 2007, our senate candidate in Kato-

sation of the political scene with a proposition of

wice won almost 5% of votes. This is all the more

green modernisation: enhancing democracy by

significant, since in the difficult region of Up-

increasing access to public information and pub-

per Silesia, where the entire economy is based

lic participation in decision making, improvement

on the coalmining industry, environmental ideas

of quality of life of the Polish society by protect-

to reduce the use of this material in the power

ing natural resources and sustainable econom-

industry are very unpopular. This is why we are

ic growth, as well as by creation of green jobs,

optimistic about the future of the Greens. At the

separation of the state and the Church and build-

moment, we focus on preparation for the 2009

ing an egalitarian society by equalling opportuni-

European election, and, in a further perspective,

ties of women and men, or protecting the rights

on building alliances with local and parliamen-

of workers and consumers. The instruments of

tary elections in mind.

green modernisation are: increased expenses

on public education, a pro-environmental tax re-

form, development of transport policy based on

Agnieszka Grzybek – Chairwoman of Zielo-

railway and public transport, climate and energy

ni 2004, in parity with Dariusz Szwed, since

policy based on increasing energy efficiency and

March 2008. Translator, feminist activist, ex-

promotion of renewable energy sources, intro-

pert in the field of equal status of women and

duction of equality regulations etc. We criticise

men, active in the Polish women’s movement

the neoliberal corporate globalisation, indicating

since 1997. Graduate of Polish language and

the need to build a global civil society and supra-

literature studies, the Human Rights School

national democratic institutions which will en-

organised by the Helsinki Foundation for

sure effective execution of the international law,

Human Rights (1998) and the Institute for

and rise to the new global political challenges,

Women’s Global Leadership organised by the

such as the environmental and energy crisis, or

Center for Women’s Global Leadership, Rut-

the climate change.

gers University (2001). During the years 2002-

2005, a member of the Consultation Board for

Such a political mix positions the Greens cross-

the Government’s Plenipotentiary for Equal

wise from the existing Left-Right divisions of

Status of Women and Men and of the EQUAL

the political scene in Poland. We are aware that

Monitoring Committee. Employee of the Hein-

this signifies the need to surround our political

rich Böll Foundation.

project with broader intellectual and social back-

ing, and to translate the issues into the language

Dariusz Szwed – Chairman of Zieloni 2004,

of the voters’ everyday life. In this sense, one of

in parity with Agnieszka Grzybek. Graduate

the most important challenges facing the Greens

of International Economic Relations at the

is the creation of an original, consistent political

Cracow University of Economics, and of Eco-

narrative, within which various issues connect-

nomic Tools for Environmental Protection at

ed with Green modernisation can be articulated.

the University of Warsaw. For several years

Another challenge is communicating to people

has acted as a consultant on sustainable de-

that issues like education, healthcare, taxes,

velopment and the non-governmental sector

power safety, infrastructure, possess a political

to many institutions/organisations, such as

dimension. Yet the most important condition is to

the World Bank, the Environmental Law Cen-

overcome the conviction that “there is no alter-

tre, Greenpeace International, the Institute

native”, which dominates public discourse.

for Sustainable Development, Milieukontakt

Oost-Europa, the Organisation for Economic

At the same time, Green demands are becom-

Cooperation and Development, the Regional

ing increasingly popular among the public, not

Development Center, the International Union

only due to the amount of attention devoted to

for Conservation of Nature, WWF.

them by the mainstream press. Each election

Polish Shades of Green

27

5. The boundaries of Green

for pedestrians and cyclists is taken over by cars,

politics

recreational grounds are tightly built over with

houses and office buildings, and the only meet-

Maciej Gdula

ing places outside work are shopping malls, their

inhabitants have lesser chances for enjoyable liv-

An old cliché has it that supporters of Green

ing. Such environment reduces human activities

politics wish to preserve whatever is left of na-

to work and shopping, and only well off people can

ture, and halt the development of civilisation, or

feel they belong there. For others – older, poor-

even put it in retrograde. Such a label effectively

er or choosing different lifestyles – there is less

prevents people from identifying with actions of

and less space. Reflexive urbanisation is an idea

Green parties and movements, since hardly an-

for shaping urban space with consideration for

ybody would want to “live in a clay hut and eat

means of transport other than cars; for protecting

roots”. Even if for some ecologists conservation

public places and ensuring equal access to them;

of nature is central, the real challenge today is to

for treating green areas as a space for the co-ex-

show that Green politics is not about something

istence of humans and non-humans, and not just

external, or about returning to the past – it is

a place for human entertainment and expansion;

about looking to the future and taking responsi-

and for remembering that not only the rich have

bility for the shape of the world inhabited not only

the right to participate.

by people. The places addressed by Green poli-

tics are equally our estate, and the Amazonian

Such space is difficult to create without combin-

jungle, the city we live in and the Vistula valley.

ing expectations of diverse people, often divided

Green politics is not related solely to “ecological

by barriers of age, gender or income. When the

issues”, since by referring to issues as diverse as

issue of bicycle paths is presented as an isolat-

quality of drinking water, urbanisation and the

ed question requiring resolution – just as quality

shape of the international order, we face up to the

of tap water, friendly parks or defending cheap

fundamental questions about freedom, equality

shopping at a local market – we lose the chance

and development.

to build a broader support base for creation of a

friendlier city. Until we recognise and define the

It is happening around you

needs of cyclists, pensioners looking for cheap

shopping and mothers looking for playgrounds,

You need not be a nature lover to discover that the

isolated cases will have little chance of a positive

issues of Green politics are neither abstract, nor

solution. Green politics means the readiness to

remote. Many of us, as children, used to spend time

bring people together in the name of democratic

in the areas surrounding our neighbourhoods. We

formation of the world around them.

went to the fields to watch tadpoles in puddles of

water, walk the dog or play ball. At some point,

We are far from initiating dynamics of this type

new tower blocks and houses appeared in the

yet, and organisation of life in cities is governed

places, which were outside our estate, neverthe-

by false obviousness, which makes our living

less belonged to our world in an obvious way. The

increasingly difficult. One of the important ex-

usual attractions disappeared. To us, this was the

amples is the construction of gated residential

end of the pleasures we were used to, but we were

estates on the outskirts of cities. Consent for

being convinced that this is the way the world is,

their creation is connected with subscribing to

and the cities must expand. Green politics means

the thesis that everyone has the right to choose

that we no longer have to accept all appearing so-

where and how they live, providing they have suf-

lutions, just because someone called them a nat-

ficient resources. As long as there is just one pri-

ural way of development.

vate estate of this type, its inhabitants enjoy all

the advantages of a fence-free world, while re-

The Green perspective means readiness to re-

taining their sense of exclusivity and security. As

shape the world around us, to make it as friendly

more and more such estates appear in the vicin-

as possible. The alternative to blocking urbani-

ity, the space available for use shrinks. Eventual-

sation is reflexive urbanisation, which takes into

ly, we end up with space, where “at home” means

account the diverse needs of people and the envi-

literally inside one’s apartment, because the

ronment. Reflexive urbanisation is the openness to

area is blocked off by fences forbidding access

human needs of communication, contact and rest.

to guarded zones. Emergence of archipelagos of

If cities are created in a manner, in which space

private estates can be seen as a model example

28

of a development, in which free individual choice

we also notice that our civilisation is capable of

leads in fact to restricting freedom. Fencing il-

generating improbable risks, which might make

lustrates the pitfalls of believing in spontaneous

life on Earth impossible. Beck’s theses very well

mechanisms which will organise our world. We

illustrate the potential of mobilisation and uni-

must understand that we live in a public space,

versal importance of ecological issues. When

which we must jointly create. If we try to organise

the climate changes, food is contaminated, or we

it individually, we shall all fail.

are threatened by nuclear disaster, their conse-

quences will afflict, to an equal extent, the Cau-

Ecology of courage, instead of ecology of fear

casians and the Africans, the rich and the poor,

the Poles and the Germans, women and men. The

The “closeness” of Green politics must not ob-

problems of the risk society are democratic, and

scure the fact, that part of its issues reach far

Beck had high hopes for direct democracy con-

beyond direct experience. Important impulses for

nected with social movements. The democratic

mass interest in ecology emerged in the 1970s,

answer, however, does not come automatically,

along with the crisis of the modernist conviction

because people continue to have different inter-

about the infinite possibilities of expansion of hu-

ests, identities and habits. The answer may lie in

man civilisation. Predictions about the limits of

another question discussed by Beck.

development quoted energy sources coming to

an end, the demographic bomb and water and air

He talks about the crisis of faith in the omnipo-

pollution. If we add to it the uncertainty caused

tence of science. Scientists used to be treated like

by pesticide use or operation of nuclear power

demiurges, attributed with the power to control

plants, it is easy to understand the doubts about

reality. Today, nobody doubts that scientists and

whether development of technology, which used

engineers do not possess full control over their

to be a source of human power, is not going to

own creations. This discovery may lead to an as-

lead to the demise of mankind. Fear of unpredict-

sumption that since even experts do not possess

able consequences of development became the

full knowledge, any control over science and tech-

driving force behind the discussion about envi-

nology is impossible. However, instead of fatalism,

ronmental issues; today they have become one

one can announce the end of independent ideol-

of the rightful subjects of public debate. Appre-

ogy, based solely on the criteria of instrumental

ciation of the importance of ecological problems

effectiveness of science and technology. If tech-

is accompanied by a sense of powerlessness and

nological solutions can influence ordinary peo-

lack of faith in our ability to cope with them. In the

ple in an unexpected manner, why should people

experience of a man or a woman in the street, the

not have at least partial control over the process

alternative is either rejecting modern civilisation,

of creation of technology? Discovering that sci-

or developing it – even if it should end in death.

ence is constructed socially does not signify that

anybody can act as an engineer, but it definitely

Green politics must aim for showing another way.

means that everybody has the right to know the

It can become possible, if we employ the poten-

consequences of a given design. Once we know

tial of mobilisation carried by ecological issues,

who will gain, and who will be excluded from par-

and at the same time politicise the questions of

ticipating in benefits, once we know the dangers

technology and science. The concept of “risk so-

connected with particular solutions, we shall be

ciety” created by German sociologist Ulrich Beck,

able to initiate a democratic decision process, so

which was hugely successful in the early 1990s,

that the chosen solutions serve the largest pos-

could be of some help here.

sible number of actors, and are accepted with the

knowledge of the risk they may carry.

The concept was often simplified to the statement

that traditional questions, such as class struggle

Have we achieved freedom yet?

and inequalities, become insignificant in the con-

text of the upcoming era of uncertainty, and the

One of the important elements defining the

increasing risk in the lives of individuals. Beck did

Greens’ policies in Western Europe in the 1960s

not simply say that we live in increasingly uncer-

and 70s, was the search for opportunities to con-

tain times, but that we begin to experience limi-

duct politics outside the official institutions. The

tations in applying the old tools used for coping

Greens preferred involvement in the form of a

with uncertainty. Even if in a developed western

social movement to creating inflexible political

country we are more likely to live until old age,

parties. Instead of procedural democracy based

Polish Shades of Green

29

mainly on repetitive voting for political parties,

freedom, typical for Green politics, can serve as a

a social movement practiced democracy in the

rejuvenating impulse leading to the understand-

sense of broadening the areas of freedom. By do-

ing of democracy as a possibility to expand free-

ing so, they could make demands, which could not

dom, rather than simply as a state other than the

possibly be made by establishments of traditional

Communist rule.

political parties. Today it has become clear that

basing politics solely on social movements is not

The new world order?

enough, and that fighting for a better world via

participation in the parliamentary system does

The appealing thing about Green politics is the

not have to be compromising. It often allows for

fact that it does not stop at state borders, and it

the postulates not only to be heard by all, but for

asks questions about the principles of construct-

transforming them into legal and institutional so-

ing the world order from a perspective transcend-

lutions. Still, Green politics continues to be based

ing national interests. Even if today we are far

on the impulse not to trust anyone who says we

from the 19th century apotheosis of the civilising

have achieved the state of complete freedom and

mission of the West, still the model of develop-

democracy.

ment implemented in Europe and North America

remains dominating, since it is treated as a way

Such an attitude is rooted in the history of eman-

of life worth following. At the same time, it is dif-

cipation, which was implemented via the intro-

ficult to deserve a possibility to live in accordance

duction of subsequent groups excluded from the

with it. Western domination is expressed by main-

existing political order. Such was the case with

taining the differentiation between civilised and

the bourgeoisie, which blew up the feudal sys-

non-civilised communities. This becomes partic-

tem and established democracy limited by prop-

ularly apparent in case of armed conflicts, which

erty requirement. This system was opposed by the

are used for emphasising the absolute difference

workers, who rightly noticed that such democracy

between the prudent and pragmatic people of the

was for the rich only. Even including the poorer

West, and the impetuous and barbaric peoples

into democracy did not eradicate the issue of the

of the East and the South. The role of barbarians

absence of women from the political system, as

can be played by the far away Hutus and Tutsis,

was observed by the feminists. Once we tell the

as well as by the closer Serbs and Croats. The

history of democracy from this perspective, it be-

conflicts and war crimes are supposed to reveal

comes apparent that it cannot be brought down to

the true face of the peoples outside the global

a set of procedures, since it signifies a struggle

centre. Other dimensions of their lives, such as

for the principles of participation and recognition.

poverty, underdevelopment, diseases or corrup-

tion only confirm the depth of the core division

In Poland, democracy is treated not so much as a

between the civilised and the barbarians.

set of procedures, but as a state of affairs differ-

ent from totalitarianism. This sharp juxtaposition

The critique of the vision of the world thus con-

of democracy and totalitarianism has become

structed is easy to figure. The West, responsi-

one of the important elements supporting the

ble for two world wars and death camps, is not

status quo. Critics of the transformation’s short-

particularly convincing as an advocate of love

comings – in the context of the economy, as well

and peace. Furthermore, the fact that individual

as values – were silenced by a statement that

western countries contribute to inciting conflicts

things were worse during the Communist era, so

outside their borders for the benefit of their in-

they should be happy to be able to vote and not

terests in those regions, renders the West unfit

end up in prison. Disagreements were stubbed

to lecture others. The view of the countries out-

in the name of achieving the goals of economic

side the centre as a breeding ground for disease,

transformation and integration with the struc-

poverty and war is not complete either, and has a

tures of the European Union and NATO; people

lot in common with the media creation aimed at

who demanded more freedoms were accused of

convincing people in the West that happy life is

inciting “ideological wars”. Today, still, demand-

possible only within the model prevailing in their

ing broader reproductive rights, asking questions

home countries. The countries outside the cen-

about the place of the Catholic Church in social

tre could simply reject the division of the world,

life, or striving for recognition of one’s sexual dis-

which is unfavourable to them, and stop chasing

tinctness are defined as a sort of political rowdi-

after the West. Self-worth could be an alternative

ness. The suspicion about faith in the victory of

for the divisions made under the assumption that

30

beyond the boundaries of the West people may at

medicines for diseases, which due to poverty in

best aspire to full humanity.

the countries where they occur do not interest in-

ternational concerns. The objective of the organi-

This proposition has serious limitations, because

sation is to produce drugs not only effective, but

although domination of the West has its sym-

also cheap, so that poor people can afford them.

bolic dimension, i.e. the imposition of the sense

of inferiority on others, it is also connected with

Noticing those issues in Poland is a value in itself,

the real differences in profiting from work, the

but it is also a condition for revitalising political

level and quality of life and the power over the

life. In Poland, thinking about international poli-

decisions concerning global solutions. The devel-

tics is reduced either to rivalry between nations

oped countries owe their position to the control

or to “entering into Europe”, which is a version of

over the most profitable branches of production,

politics of normalcy. This means that the space

and the profits they draw from cheap labour of

for political choice disappears, because either

workers from the South are not without signifi-

national interest is being defended, or normal

cance. This division of labour and profits cannot

– i.e. not up to discussion – solutions are be-

be changed purely by altering attitudes and free-

ing introduced. Once we notice that no standard

ing oneself from domination of western culture.

of global politics is innocent, and that its actors

Furthermore, the alternative for participation in

are not only nations, but also classes, religious

the international division of labour - the profits

groups or ethnic minorities, we may be able to fi-

from which are not distributed symmetrically - is

nally conduct a policy, including the policy within

often the disintegration of state and descending

the European Union, which will no longer be re-

into chaos, which had happened to a part of Af-

duced to defending national particularism.

rican territories. The West, so willing to call for

openness when it comes to circulation of capital

Crossing the boundaries

and goods, offers refugees nothing but closed

borders and refugee camps.

If we look for the lowest common denominator

combining different dimensions of Green politics,

Is the situation hopeless? It is not, but we must

we might discover it to be the readiness to cross

notice and support new possibilities for conduct-

boundaries. When we seek allies in designing

ing politics, emerging on the junction between

public space, try to find democratic procedures

the North and the South. Those opportunities are

which would solve problems beyond the nation-

often connected with questioning of the rules,

al state territory, or when we are concerned for

which are taken for granted in the West. A good

people left with no hope in the modern world,

example is the attitude of the Brazilian govern-

we try to step beyond the politics aimed at cut-

ment, which at the turn of the century decided

ting off problems, and beyond illusions that some

to challenge intellectual property agreements,

spontaneous mechanisms can make the world a

and in order to save lives of its citizens, decided

friendlier place. Conducting Green politics means

to break patents for anti-AIDS medication. This

readiness to operate without hard bases, when

move saved thousands of people, whom interna-

neither a nation, nor the market, are obvious. The

tional treaties had sentenced to death. The Bra-

one certainty is that there is a challenge awaiting

zilians put their citizens’ right to life and access

us beyond.

to modern therapy before property rights, which

in practice serve higher profits of western com-

panies. Hence the chance for the South lies in

Maciej Gdula – sociologist and publicist. Mem-

at least partial abandonment of the logic of free

ber of the editorial team of “Krytyka Polityc-

trade, which benefits mainly the developed coun-

zna”. Works at the Institute of Sociology of the

tries. Another important strategy is the creation

University of Warsaw, where he presented a

of horizontal systems of cooperation, facilitating

PhD thesis about expert discourses on love.

overcoming the dependence upon the developed

He is interested in social theory and theory

countries. One such successful project is the

of politics, combining those interests with in-

Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDI).

volvement in public debate. He has published

The organisation brings together public research

theoretical texts on urban space, Polish politi-

centres from Kenya, India, Malaysia, Brazil, as

cal scene and political history. He translated

well as the Pasteur Institute from France and

and co-edited polish translations of texts and

Doctors Without Borders, in order to work on

books by Pierre Bourdieu.

Polish Shades of Green

31

6. Green modernisation

my announced the miracle to be the new norm.

Edwin Bendyk

There are no limits to development, wrote Peter

Schwartz in a text entitled The Long Boom, ar-

“If there was no global warming, someone ought to

guing that capitalism was no longer under threat

invent it” says Jeff Immelt, head of General Electric,

from economic cycles and crises.

the world’s largest industrial conglomerate. And he

adds: “Green means greens”, as in “dollars”.

Cheap natural resources, particularly oil and gas,

made dematerialisation of the economy credible.

Germs of change

Consumption became the problem, which was

nevertheless swiftly solved by the instant devel-

Long before the first symptoms of the financial

opment of techniques to stimulate consumer

crisis appeared in the summer of 2007, bosses

desires, and financial instruments facilitating

of many major corporations had begun to no-

satisfaction of those passions. Cult publications

tice that the existing model of capitalism was

of the 1970s, such as the Medowses’ Limits to

exhausted. This discovery was made at a most

Growth (1972), went into the dustbin. There are

surprising moment, in the 1990s, when it seemed

no limits, because there are no limits to innova-

that neoliberal capitalism was celebrating its

tion creating a permanent supply of new products

ultimate triumph, and history really did end. In

and services. And there are no limits, because

1989, the system of real socialism fell apart; in

the desire at the root of the demand-generating

1991, the Soviet Union ceased to exist, ending the

consumption is unquenchable.

great experiment of construction of a centrally-

planned, state-owned economy. Paraphrasing

The late 90s brought first symptoms of change.

Marx, socialism collapsed under the weight of its

It soon turned out that behind the New Economy

own contradictions.

and infinite growth there was the good old capi-

talism founded on exploitation of all possible re-

In the same moment, after a short and shallow

sources. However, in the new, globalised world,

depression, capitalism quickly regained vigour. In

the inconvenient truth was impossible to conceal.

came the crazy 90s, the era of accelerating proc-

Global public opinion learned about the rebellion

esses of globalisation, cheap resources, cheap

of the Chiapas indigenous farmers, children’s la-

labour from the countries behind the former

bour in Vietnamese sweatshops, ecological dev-

iron curtain, cheap capital and unlimited growth,

astation in Nigeria and Brazil, and it finally said:

which was to be guaranteed by the growing con-

“Enough!” Armed with the internet, it begun to

sumption in both the old, mature, and the new,

create a discourse, which was critical of the of-

starved markets. As Thomas L. Friedman of The

ficial neoliberal doctrine. The discourse was fol-

New York Times cleverly put it, the new world or-

lowed by action. Radical innovation decided about

der arrived - globalisation with free market ide-

its results. New social movements, which ques-

ology - and behind it stood the hidden fist of the

tioned the official model of development in the

American army. We might add that the hidden

1990s, discovered that the best weapon would be

network of the internet and digital communica-

to employ the main driving power behind modern

tion pulsates behind this new order as well.

capitalism – consumption. As the weapon of the

workers fighting for their rights against the capi-

The new era required new theories, so the proph-

tal was strike, i.e. the refusal to work, at the end

ets of the New Economy emerged soon after-

of the 20th century, the refusal to consume proved

wards. In 1994, American Republicans went for

the most effective tactics.

victory in the Congress election, waving their pro-

gramme document, Magna Carta for the Knowl-

Consumer revolt, or refusing to buy products of

edge Age. The text, written by Alvin Toffler, Esther

particular brands, coordinated via the internet,

Dyson and George Gilder, commenced with the

brought the largest corporations to their knees.

words: “The central event of the 20th century is

Nike or Coca Cola were among the first miracu-

the overthrow of matter” (by information). One

lously converted, who earlier believed their only

year later, the internet investment fever begun

responsibility was for the profit expected by their

at the world’s stock exchanges, and index values

shareholders. Obviously, those corporations did

surged to the levels inconceivable a few years

not suddenly turn into philanthropists forced by

earlier. Sceptics said the miracle could not last

an emotional impulse to look after their employ-

forever. The theoreticians of the New Econo-

ees and the environment.

32

Crisis of the future

economy is fundamentally healthy, if the Ameri-

cans cannot at the moment afford German Mer-

Consumer revolts made the more enlightened

cedes cars? The condition for the return of the

of capitalist helmsmen realise that, contrary to

global economy to growth is the restoration of the

the assurances about eternal indestructibility if

dynamics of demand and supply, as was the case

growth, the key resource – the future - started to

with all previous crises. This time, however, the

erode. For Capitalism, the future is as important,

problem is more serious, because the new condi-

and at the same time as obvious, as the air. The

tion is to overcome the crisis of future.

future simply does exist, and must be better than

the past, because all development takes place at

It will not suffice to initiate a large programme

the expense (literally) of the future. That is why

of public investment, as in the times of the 1930s

the GNP is such a fetish; it must grow, because

New Deal. It will not suffice, as in the 1980s, to

its growth guarantees politicians, that the repay-

strike a deal with Saudi Arabia, to once again be-

ment of public debt will be possible. Even cata-

gin pumping the cheap oil. Capitalism entered

clysms like both world wars did not question the

the phase of large restructuring. If it is to end the

faith in the future, because every time a war end-

crisis for good, it needs a new model of develop-

ed, the conviction that this time we will manage

ment, taking into account the future as the key

to form a better world and avoid the next world

component of development capital and not, as

war resurfaced.

before, a factor, which is external and given. Cer-

tain corporations, confronted with the powerful

Late in the 20th century, in the conditions of peace

effect of consumer revolt, began to discover this

and unprecedented increase of prosperity (albeit

in the late 1990s. They realised that their survival

unevenly distributed, nevertheless unquestion-

depends not merely on short-term profit, but on

able), the crisis of the future arrived, identified

the expectations, values and dreams of consum-

perfectly by Polish historian and philosopher

ers in 10, 20, 30 years time.

Krzysztof Pomian, as early as 1980. The crisis

was multidimensional and involved the exhaus-

Green spirit of capitalism

tion of natural and psychological resources. Its

symptom was the entire decade of the 1970s,

Bosses of economic giants discovered the truths

with its two energy shocks: in 1973 and 1979. The

expressed 100 years earlier by German sociolo-

programmes of Green modernisation of capital-

gist Max Weber. He argued that the propeller of

ism commenced. U.S. President Jimmy Carter,

development, according to capitalist logic, is the

an engineer by education, personally activated

spiritual disposition of the society, which can be

solar panels on the White House roof. Little Den-

favourable or unfavourable to the objectives of

mark set itself a goal of developing without in-

the economy. Weber argued that it was the Prot-

creased consumption of energy. Germany, Japan,

estant ethic, which facilitated the triumphant

Sweden and France changed their development

emergence of capitalism 200-300 years ago. It

strategies.

commends diligent work and turns it into a voca-

tion, it accepts profit as reward for efforts, and

After 1980, divisions formed. The United States

appreciates individual achievement, considering

decided that green capitalism was a costly whim.

it a form of serving God. The values of protestant

Ronald Reagan removed the solar panels and ne-

ethics became the foundation of the so-called

gotiated higher oil supplies from Saudi Arabia.

capitalist spirit, i.e. the system of commonly rec-

The price of oil dropped rapidly, and the Soviet Union

ognised values facilitating the operation of the

fell into financial trouble, from which it never re-

system.

covered. However, the question whether a non-

exploitative capitalism was possible, remained

Capitalism, however, is a very dynamic system,

open. Positive examples of Denmark, Sweden, or

therefore what served it in the beginning, dur-

even large Germany were no real evidence, since

ing the primary accumulation, is not necessarily

those countries operated within an international

good for it whence it matured, as observed by We-

system propelled by the United States.

ber’s continuator, French sociologist Luc Boltan-

ski. What mature capitalism discovered, was that

That is why the present crisis causes so much

the demand-generating passion for consump-

concern – it emerged from the very heart of the

tion served it better than the protestant ethics of

global system. What of the fact that the German

economising. In the 20th century, therefore, we

Polish Shades of Green

33

witnessed a large transformation of the spirit of

Electric prove that it is possible to completely

capitalism – the Protestant ethic was substituted

reorganise production cycles in such a manner,

by the ethics of hyper-consumerist hedonism.

that not only pro-environmental expenses bring

This ethics, however, ultimately expired with the

no loss, but they yield profit thank to increased

fall of the Lehman Brothers and the nationalisa-

efficiency and improved image among consum-

tion of AIG.

ers, who control the most dangerous weapon –

they may refuse to consume. Those who treated

Right now, we are witnessing the emergence of

the change as a whim of Green Eco-Leftists, e.g.

the new, Green spirit of capitalism. To better un-

the Detroit car manufacturers, are today knock-

derstand the dynamics of this process, it is worth

ing at the federal government’s door, begging

referring to Boltanski’s analyses. A transition

for help. Nobody wants to buy their fuel-con-

from one system of values to another takes place

suming monstrosities, and it is too late to pre-

as a result of critique of the existing system.

pare a new offer.

The critique arises on the fringes. It is initially

expressed by artists, and then penetrates into

The situation is similar in the case of entire nation-

sociological thinking. Consequently, there is a

al economies. Countries who noticed the change

growing number of symbols and concepts, which

early enough are today the leaders of eco-devel-

may propose an alternative description of the re-

opment, but also of development measured by

ality. As in the fairytale, someone exclaims: “The

classic parameters: level of employment, quality

system is naked!” With time, others begin to call

of life, dynamics of economic growth. Denmark,

out, and barricades are built in the streets, as in

Sweden and Finland are model examples of re-

1968. The system defends itself, but only until it

orientating the development mechanisms in line

discovers, that it will be better off switching over

with the green spirit of capitalism. Poland, on the

to the values expressed by its critics. Effectively,

other hand, just like an automotive giant from

the values of the critique become the values of

Detroit, has only just discovered that the world

the system. That is how the slogans of the 1968

has changed, that it is no longer possible to im-

student revolt became the foundation of the spirit

plement the neoliberal formula, and that it might

of neoliberal capitalism.

be too late to switch over to the new model. Such

a state of affairs is particularly apparent as far

Thus, in the late 1990s, consumer revolts revealed

as the EU negotiations on the climate and energy

gaps in the neoliberal system, and the helmsmen

package are concerned.

of capitalism with slightly more insight begun to

steer their corporations towards the values of the

Polish dilemmas

new spirit. They discovered an irreversible shift

in the socially accepted system of values. The fu-

The Polish government argues that fulfilling

ture is becoming increasingly significant, and the

the goals of climate policy defined in the pack-

key factor influencing the quality of the future is

age would mean huge costs, which would kill the

the condition of the broadly defined environment.

economy. The economy is facing a perspective of

The new spirit is being constructed exactly in the

blackouts within 2-3 years, due to decapitalisa-

manner described by Boltanski. It all began with

tion of the power system. Huge investments are

the aesthetic critique expressed by the hippie

required in order to reconstruct the necessary

movements, then science joined in. Books like

energy infrastructure – each year the power sec-

Silent Spring, Limits to Growth, or Club of Rome

tor should add about 2.5 GW in order to turn off

reports, although fiercely criticised (often de-

the old plants and, at the same time, keep up with

servedly) for numerous inaccuracies, effectively

the growing demand. Simultaneously, according

undermined the paradigm. The culmination point

to the package, Poland should reduce emissions

was the crisis caused by the discovery of the gap

of hothouse gases. According to experts, the nec-

in the ozone layer, and the role of humans in its

essary investments and payments for CO emis-

2

creation, and later, of the global warming caused

sions will radically increase energy prices, which

by emission of hothouse gases.

in turn will dramatically reduce competitiveness

of several energy consuming branches of the

Whoever spotted the upcoming change early,

Polish economy. To ask Lenin’s question, what

and instead of resisting it, got involved with the

should be done? Can we still catch up with the

development strategy, is going to win. The ex-

green revolution, or are we doomed to the faith of

amples of Nike, Coca Cola, Du Pont or General

the Russian bourgeoisie after the Great October?

34

Unfortunately, there is no easy answer. Certainly,

various energy mixes. Consequently, the lack of

Poland possesses numerous resources, which

time and the political favouring of certain tech-

might make the green transformation possible.

nologies will result in allocating resources in one

Obviously, we must start by defining the goal.

development trend, while research works on clean

There are, however, several possible scenari-

coal technologies, for example, will be neglected.

os of constructing the so-called energy mix in a

manner corresponding with the goals of climate

The final effect will be the deindustrialisation

policy and the conditions of sustainable growth.

of countries like Poland, which will not signify

We can, therefore, base our future on intensive

achieving the objective target - the global reduc-

development of renewable energy sources, as

tion of carbon emissions. Helm illustrates this

recommended e.g. by Greenpeace in its report

paradox with the example of Great Britain, which

[R]ewolucja energetyczna dla Polski (Energy [R]

since 1990 reduced its CO emissions by 15%, of

2

evolution Scenario for Poland), and at the same

which it is very proud. However, if we were to cal-

time systematically reduce the share of coal in

culate the carbon footprint of products consumed

the economy. There is a possible scenario, in

by the British, most of which are imported, Brit-

which there will be room for renewable energy,

ain’s effective input in carbon emissions would

as well as for clean coal technologies, which is

grow by 19%.

recommended by the experts of the National

Programme Foresight Polska 2020. Some circles

Who will be the champion of eco-development?

promote including atomic energy in the mix.

The above analyses indicate that the objectives

There are favourable technical conditions for

of the green revolution will be just as difficult to

each variant. Choosing one of them, however, will

achieve, as the objectives of the socialist revolu-

bear consequences for the structure of our fur-

tion were, if they are enforced under any kind of

ther socio-economic development. The Green-

dictate. Pressure results from political dynamics,

peace variant will signify gradual extinguishing of

which masks various interests of the actors of the

the Polish coal industry. The coal lobby, on the

EU’s political game. Rationality of the game is not

other hand, argues that coal, in connection with

always in line with economic and technical ra-

investment in developing coal technologies, can

tionality, and what is worse, it is counterproduc-

become a driving force for development, a Polish

tive as far as the overall objective is concerned.

equivalent of the Finnish Nokia. Atomic energy

If this objective is to be the transformation of the

will mean centralising the energy supply system,

economy, public awareness – the earlier quoted

whilst development of renewable power produc-

transformation of the spirit of capitalism - must

tion is conducive to its dispersing, which might be

come first.

socially beneficial in a country where the popula-

tion is very dispersed and a large proportion of

In Poland, this transformation has only just be-

people live in the countryside.

gun. Public discourse is still dominated by the

language inherited from the neoliberal period,

I will not attempt to analyse any of the variants,

when the environment was an external factor and

because each of them, technically and from the

introducing it into the economic calculation was

point of view of the presently available knowl-

treated as a cost rather than a productive com-

edge, can lead to the strategic target – the green

ponent of capital. The attempt to speed things up

transformation and putting Poland on the path of

by institutional pressure, which, in fact, involves

sustainable eco-development.

enforcing solutions not only incomprehensible,

but, due to objective reasons, often questionable

Technical conditions are necessary, but not suf-

as well, is bound to fail.

ficient for the success of the process. There are

other components. The first one is time. Unfortu-

The situation is perfectly illustrated by the case

nately, the package does not provide enough of it.

of the United States, for many years the most

As economist from Oxford Dieter Helm argues, in

consistent opponent of institutionalisation of the

constructing the package politics won over com-

green revolution. At the same time, inside the

mon sense and economic reasoning. This is ex-

American society a dynamic process of transfor-

pressed by, among others, promoting a single

mation was underway. Thanks to this process,

technology, i.e. renewable energy, although the

American business and American politics be-

objectives of climate policy can be obtained via

gan to change. Ending his election campaign in

Polish Shades of Green

35

Des Moines on October 31 2008, Barack Obama

Similar transformation in Poland is possible,

announced that over the upcoming decade he

providing that great changes take place in public

would provide 150 billion dollars for development

awareness, and the leading elites emerge, who

of green technologies. If he sticks to his promise

will channel the newly stimulated social energy

and treats the present crisis as a signal for radi-

into new progressive projects. The question today

cal change, the United States will beat Europe to

is not whether the green revolution is possible.

the position of the leader of eco-development.

There is no other model of modernisation. The al-

ternative would be a collapse of civilisation.

Why so? Do EU countries not dominate in devel-

opment of green technologies? This is true, as far

as the number of patents is concerned. The US,

Edwin Bendyk – publicist (“Polityka” week-

on the other hand, has larger ecological scientific

ly), writer (author of Zatruta studnia. Rzecz

resources (measured objectively, by number of

o władzy i wolności – The Poisoned Well and

publications) and more entrepreneurship, which

Antymatrix. Człowiek w labiryncie sieci – An-

both await to be mobilised by the third factor –

ti-Matrix. A man in a Labirynth of Networks),

financing. That should not pose a problem, since

academic (lecturer at Collegium Civitas and

the present spirit of capitalism uses its hidden

the Centre of Social Sciences of the Polish

hand to command streams of risk capital. Should

Academy of Sciences). He writes blogs “An-

this take place, it will be a cause for celebration.

tymatrix”: http://bendyk.blog.polityka.pl and

Success in overcoming the crisis and, at the same

“Makroskop”: http://makroskop.polityka.pl. At

time, success of the global green revolution, de-

the moment, he is working on a book entitled

pend largely upon the United States.

Miłość, wojna, rewolucja (Love, War, Revolu-

tion). He publishes in “Krytyka Polityczna”,

“Przegląd Polityczny”, “Piktogram”.

36

7. Let us not free the state

ened our Earth with true, objective economics.

from responsibility

It was more of a landing operation: American

neoliberals and neoconservatives were read and

Przemysław Sadura talks to Agnieszka

admired. This trend had a massive influence on

Graff about the road from “Solidarity” to

a certain part of Polish intelligentsia; it infected

NGOs, and what will happen next.

people creating new Poland with categories of

peculiarly interpreted economics. Neoliberalism

Przemysław Sadura: For some time now, your

in Poland has been treated not as a theory, but as

views have seemed to evolve from liberal femi-

a dogma, the very fundament of “normalcy”. This

nism to social feminism. When I was researching

is a result of an allergy to left-wing views, which

the Green electorate, I noticed the voters still find

was natural after the experience of “real social-

it difficult to associate issues like social justice

ism”, but ought to be viewed as a historical proc-

and freedom of convictions. How did you conjoin

ess, rather than a revealed truth. Anyway, this

those two?

process is reaching its end. I did not contribute

to this state of affairs, in fact I am surprised and

Agnieszka Graff: My turn towards the Left is the

ashamed I grasped it all so late.

case of evolution of sensitivity rather than views.

Similarly to a larger part of humanistic intel-

PS: I observe a similar evolution in many femi-

ligentsia in the 1990s, I had no views about the

nists, perhaps with the exception of Magdalena

economy and – more importantly – I did not con-

Środa.42 Women’s organisations change, and

sider it my duty to have any. We treated the econ-

nurses and trade unions participate in the March

omy as an area to be dealt with by experts, such

Manifas.43

as Balcerowicz. We turned to literature, culture,

ethics, we believed ourselves to be “liberal”, and

AG: I think the key experience for these circles

in terms of values, we wanted to break the bish-

was the nurses’ “White Town”.44 At least for me,

ops’ monopoly. The market seemed transparent

it was a breakthrough. It was not merely about

to us. In those days, in my thinking, capitalism did

the generally defined intelligentsia remaining si-

not constitute a subject for debate – it was just

lent about economic issues, but about the painful

“normal”. This ended some years ago, thanks

breach in Polish feminism. For a long time, a me-

to my talks with Adam Ostolski and Kinga Du-

dia story has dragged behind us, about privileged

nin, who made me aware of gaps in my thinking.

upper-middle class ladies who practice feminism

During one of the debates at TR,41 Adam Ostolski

at their universities, and about so-called “normal

made a short speech about the status of experts

women”, such as cashiers at Tesco or divorced

and ideological blindness which leads us to leave

women who cannot execute child support pay-

the area of the economy to so-called “experts”,

ments for their children, who have nothing to do

as if we were assuming they had no views, only

with us, and to whom we have nothing to offer.

knowledge. It occurred to me then that consent-

“Feminists vs. the normal ones” was a mythical

ing to omitting certain topics is, in fact, intellec-

and unfair opposition, because right from the be-

tual indolence. So I started to read, which was all

ginning, our feminism was about women’s rights,

the easier, since Klein’s No Logo, Ehrenreich’s

it went beyond universities... There was, never-

Nickel and Dimed and Stiglitz’s Globalization had

theless, a pinch of truth in the juxtaposition. We

just been published, and “Krytyka Polityczna”

went to nurses’ demonstrations, we supported

was beginning to publish texts about ideological

the fight for reinstatement of the alimony fund.

functions of economics. This is how I started to

Those were, nevertheless, individual actions.

understand that economics, too, is a world view,

The breakthrough took place because of various

and not knowledge. It is not as if in the 1980s the

coalitions created thanks to Kasia Bratkowska,

holy ghost descended from heaven and enlight-

Wanda Nowicka and Kazia Szczuka.45 The Greens

41 TR Warszawa – TR Warsaw, a theatre and a modern cultural centre in Warsaw.

42 Magdalena Środa – a well known philosopher (University of Warsaw) and feminist, former Government Plenipotentiary for Equal Status (2004-2005) (Editor).

43 Manifa – an annual parade through different Polish cities to celebrate International Women’s Day. Each parade has its own “theme”

that refers to current women’s issues (Editor).

44 Between June 19, 2007, and July 15, 2007, about approx. three thousand nurses from Poland’s state hospitals camped out in tents in front of the Prime Minister’s office. Their protest was aimed at raising their wages. The tent action itself was triggered by the fact that the Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński refused to meet with the representatives of a large nurses’ demo on June 19 (Editor) 45 Katarzyna Bratkowska, Wanda Nowicka and Kazimiera Szczuka - well known Polish feminists and activists (Editor).

Polish Shades of Green

37

and “Krytyka Polityczna” made their contribution

PS: How permanent is this seduction and the re-

as well, with their strong presence in the “White

sulting marriage of intelligentsia and the socially

Town”. Also, there was the Helsinki Foundation

marginalised groups?

for Human Rights, which conducted several court

cases combining gender and social issues: sex-

AG: The intellectual breakthrough is irrevers-

ual harassment at Frito Lay, exploitation at Bie-

ible. I do not know about the others, but reading

dronka supermarkets, the case of Alicja Tysiąc.46

Ost’s book “reorganised” my head. A strategic

I cooperate with the Helsinki Foundation, and,

marriage, however, is fragile, if only because

while observing these cases, I underwent a sort

the cultural, linguistic and, to some extent, eco-

of prolonged ethical shock: I kept realising that

nomic gap between us still exists. We can share

the drama of those women is not the fact that

similar views, but we often talk of different sub-

they were deprived of abstract rights, but their

jects, and are fearful of different issues. Let us

poverty and helplessness in confrontation with

not be misled, for women outside larger cit-

those in power. And that this is male power, but

ies, “feminism” is still a strange and terrifying

embedded – in the case of harassment – in mar-

word. Nurses are afraid of the “shame” we got

ket mechanisms. The gender perspective is im-

used to over the years. For a person living in a

portant here, but not sufficient.

traditional environment outside Warsaw, a deci-

sion to go to the Manifa is very difficult to make.

We were also strongly influenced by Ost’s Defeat

This apprehension about radicalism – not as

of Solidarity. I do not completely subscribe to the

much of the views, but of forms of political ex-

thesis that Solidarity was a trade union move-

pression – is apparent in the process of building

ment, which betrayed workers by crossing over to

national coalitions, such as the recently created

the neoliberal side, because I believe “trade un-

Citizens’ Forum of Women (Obywatelskie Forum

ionism” had never been a key to that movement

Kobiet). We sometimes abandon “embarrass-

– it was a national spurt, which for historical rea-

ing” ideas, to make other women feel better. As

sons took the form of a trade union. It is not to-

Joanna Piotrowska48 put it, “the girls are waiting

tally unfounded, though, because as well as other

to see if we are not sending soiled sanitary tow-

things, Solidarity was indeed a union, a movement

els to the ministry again. As soon as they real-

of workers. Ost spotted a gap in the awareness of

ise we are not, everything is fine”. That is why I

oppositionist intelligentsia of my generation, and

consider yesterday’s event in the Sejm49 - cele-

older. He showed that the workers’ anger after

brating the history of the suffrage - a great suc-

1989 was justified, and that populists’ exploita-

cess. The suffragettes are uncontroversial, since

tion of it was no accident. It is tell-tale that – as

no one, except Korwin-Mikke,50 would say today

you said – Magda Środa still thinks as she used

that women should not have the right to vote. At

to, while younger people found it easier to see

the same time, they are controversial, since they

Poland’s latest history in a new optics. We man-

can be quoted in a way, which makes the present

aged to understand the futility of the juxtaposi-

government uneasy. To come to the Sejm is an

tion: “enlightened modernisers vs. irresponsible

ennoblement, a touch of excitement. I could feel

populists”. The victory of Lepper, Giertych, Ry-

it myself. That is why we swapped wigs, which

dzyk,47 was brought about not by the stupidity of

had their role in the history of the Polish feminist

the masses, not by nostalgia for communism, but

movement, for beautiful hats, which evoke an el-

by a sort of betrayal by the elites.

ement of conventional femininity, as well as his-

tory. Feminism, as a rule, means parting with the

46 Alicja Tysiąc - a Polish woman who was denied access to abortion although the pregnancy posed a real threat to her health and she was legally entitled to it. On March 20, 2007, the European Court of Human Rights announced its verdict in favour of Alicja (Poland was urged to pay compensation to A. Tysiąc). This case reignited public debate about the restrictive Polish abortion law (Editor).

47 Andrzej Lepper (Leader of Samoobrona – Self-Defence of the Republic of Poland, a left-wing agrarian and populist party) and Roman Giertych (Leader of Liga Polskich Rodzin - The League of Polish Families, a right-wing political party) built the Polish government coalition (together with Prawo i Sprawiedliwość – Law and Justice) from May 5, 2006, until August 13, 2007. Together with Tadeusz Rydzyk (an influential Roman Catholic priest and Redemptorist, creator and head of the controversial Radio Maryja station and leader of the Radio Maryja Families conservative movement they were symbols of the victory of the right-national-conservative groups of society in Poland after the parliamentary elections in 2005 (Editor).

48 Joanna Piotrowska – a Polish feminist, director of the Feminoteka Foundation (Editor)

49 On November 18, 2008 the event to celebrate the 90-anniversary of the election rights for Polish women took place in the Polish Parliament (Sejm) (Editor)

50 Janusz Korwin-Mikke – a Polish conservative liberal politician a former leader of Unia Polityki Realnej - The Real Politics Union (Editor).

38

stereotype of traditional femininity. But the patri-

NGO sector is so intensely feminised. The activ-

archy punishes women for it; it entails genuine

ists – not just feminists – assumed a traditional

costs. It is difficult to abandon one’s “normal” im-

women’s role here: carers, cleaners, the ones

age without the support, which the Warsaw intel-

who remain responsible when others run riot.

lectual circles do possess. This is not to say that

The market messed up certain things, left peo-

there are no radical feminists outside Warsaw.

ple in the lurch... and women from NGOs bustle

They exist, and I get the impression that they are

around, help, repair the damage.

more “iron jawed” than we are, since they bear

greater risk. But we also try to build a coalition

PS: What do you think was the origin of this phe-

with those, who want equality, but are afraid of

nomenon?

feminism. We approach each other cautiously. We

begin to have views about economic issues, they

AG: I believe the concept of “civil society” was

begin to have feminist views. Furthermore, we

of key significance here. People born in the late

no longer assume, as we used to, that not having

1960s grew up reading texts by Michnik, Havel,

feminist views is “false consciousness”; we learn

Kołakowski, which presented a beautiful vision of

to respect our differences.

depoliticised dissident idealism: we shall over-

throw communism, keeping our purity and nobil-

PS: You mentioned building national coalitions.

ity intact. We shall build a new language, we shall

How do you see the existing and the future role

speak the truth in spite of communist newspeak.

of women’s and feminist organisations in devel-

Nobody told us then that political views are worth

oping the movement, which brings together such

having, all you needed to do was to be against

different circles?

communism. We were convinced that the intel-

ligentsia was not to be preoccupied with politics

AG: I do have a broader reflection about non-gov-

– it was to support the truth and democracy, i.e.

ernmental organisations and their position within

to create the civil society. I have recently spoken

the system. Organisations like the OŚKa Founda-

with Barbara Einhom, British sociologist, who

tion, the Women’s Rights Centre, the eFKa Wom-

wrote a book about feminism and the concept of

en’s Foundation, and the recently very resilient

civism in Eastern Europe. She quoted the opin-

Feminoteka, have done a huge and very useful

ion of a Hungarian activist of non-governmental

job. At the same time, I cannot help thinking that

organisations: “We thought we were building a

by doing certain things so well, women freed the

civil society, and all we created were NGOs”. I

state from its responsibility for the social sphere.

had heard this opinion before, from Polish femi-

We thought we were putting pressure on the state

nists. The sentence circulates, because it is con-

and forcing it to pay attention to, for example,

veying something important. We wanted to create

the issue of violence against women or the need

a brave new world, and we created a network of

for sexual education at schools. In recent years,

small foundations, which, to make things worse,

I have come to the conclusion that we provided

are usually conflicted, because they compete for

the state with an alibi, we let it resign from look-

the same modest resources.

ing after the social sphere. I am not alone in my

diagnosis; there is an extensive literature on so-

We sometimes have disputes about why there is

called “NGO-isation” of the women’s movement

so much conflict between women’s organisations:

and social movements in general. Most gener-

is it a question of female predilection to conflict,

ally speaking, the NGO-isation involves creating

an internal characteristic of feminism? It is not. It

professional institutions instead of social move-

is an immanent feature of NGOs, an outcome of

ments for dealing with various painful issues, and

the system in which they have to operate. Their

the state delegates the social sphere to them.

interest requires monopolising a particular issue

The NGOs, trying to patch up the gaps left behind

and guarding their boundaries, it is not conducive

by neoliberalism, fall into a spiral of depoliticisa-

to cooperation. One western organisation donates

tion. The more we are preoccupied with patching

towards women’s reproductive rights, another to

up and fundraising for it, the less time and ener-

victims of domestic violence. If we were given a

gy we have for lobbying and changing the reality.

grant for “project x”, they will not give us fund-

Some people believe that feminism succumbed to

ing for something similar. This makes it impos-

this to a lesser extent than NGOs of other types,

sible to build coalitions around current, urgent

because it is political by nature, nevertheless it is

issues. Politically, it is obvious: it is necessary to

not immune. Besides, it is no coincidence that the

organise a demonstration. But who is supposed

Polish Shades of Green

39

to do it, if all organisations are busy applying for

PS: You indicate the fear of politicisation...

grants or implementing a project on something

else, or reporting. Is it not where all those Polish

AG: It is not a fear. It is idolising anti-politicisation.

feminists work? I remember employees of a cer-

Yesterday Kazia Szczuka said that it was incred-

tain feminist foundation painting banners for the

ible to be inside the Sejm, rather than picketing

Manifa after hours, or sending Manifa faxes with

outside it. Only a few years earlier we felt much

a sense of guilt about stealing time from their

better outside. The idea to go inside did not seem

proper work. Perhaps I am naive, but I believe

very trendy.

their office should have been the Manifa’s head-

quarters. Instead of a foundation I go to, I should

PS: Then perhaps this is the time to build a politi-

have an organisation I belong to... If our suf-

cal party, or join one of the existing ones?

fragette grandmothers operated like we do, we

would still have no right to vote. NGO-isation is a

AG: There is a huge barrier in Poland as far as

great waste of our generation’s energy.

building political parties is concerned. Both Zielo-

ni 2004 and the Women’s Party crushed against

PS: This reminds me of a workshop for Polish so-

it. Their emergence was an attempt to break

cial workers I used to conduct. The participants

through this wall. Gretkowska51 said repeatedly

were shocked to hear that Scandinavian social

that she was fed up with standing outside the

workers were active members of trade unions,

Sejm. I cannot pretend it had no influence upon

which not only defended their rights as employ-

me. Reading her interviews, I was annoyed by her

ees, but represented political interests of their

conformism on the issue of the right to abortion,

clients as well. In Poland, a social worker – gov-

but she gave me food for thought about the fu-

ernmental or non-governmental – deals with

tility of picketing outside the parliament. And it

solving practical problems of people in his or her

was she who attracted thousands of women. She

care, and not with representing them.

failed, so perhaps a party is not the right formula

either. But isolated NGOs locked in their offices

AG: It is also considered a peculiar thought that

are no good, and that is for certain.

an NGO is responsible to its employees as an em-

ployer, and that those employees might protest.

PS: If we abandon the formulas of a non-govern-

I know many people, who fled NGOs, because

mental organisation and a political party, what

they were, and still are, notoriously bad employ-

alternative are we left with for an institutional

ers. Unlike in business, it is assumed that an em-

basis for an alliance between “ordinary women”

ployee is an activist, a noble changer of the world

and “women from the media”?

and distributor of goods. Such vision implies that

wrong-doing to employees and clients is possible.

AG: I see no overall solutions. What I do see are

And there is the issue you mentioned: do we treat

mainly coalition strategies, temporary, or if pos-

recipients of those goods as political subjects? It

sible – more permanent frameworks of coop-

does not occur to us that we ought to be elected

eration. I am involved in the Citizen’s Forum of

by those people; that this is about representation,

Women – I see it as an important hope for Polish

and not about charity work. We admire the demo-

feminism. The Forum facilitates joining the ef-

cratic structure of the first Solidarity, but where

forts of women involved in political parties, non-

is the democratic structure of the civil society?

governmental organisations, trade unions, and a

NGOs are foundations, their boards do not change

few free electrons – women connected with uni-

for years, they are managed by the same people

versities. Feminoteka acts as a magnet: it does

all the time. Those people treat their organisa-

not organise, but enables the members of the Fo-

tions as their property, their private companies. I

rum to create their own organisation. Each of us

have great respect and appreciation for them, but

has a sense of cause; e.g. the event in the Sejm

the structure deeply lacks transparency and is

was thought up and coordinated by Małgorzata

very frustrating. NGOs are a little world of its own

Tkacz-Janik, a Green and a feminist from Silesia.

– there is no room for development here, no con-

The group has a long-term programme for getting

tinuation. That is why, after several years, people

united around various demands – and for me it is

burn out instead of changing the world.

crucial that we are not afraid of the political ones.

51 Manuela Gretkowska – a Polish writer, the founder (2007) and the first leader of the Polish Women’s Party - Partia Kobiet (Editor).

40

The hats were most visible in the Sejm, but it was

civil society after 1989. Participatory democracy

all about the political dimension of the women’s

ought to accompany parliamentary democracy

cause, about the fact that, as women, we have our

rather than be substituted by it – politics is not

own history, and that that history is political. Pro-

to be left entirely to politicians as soon as the

fessor Małgorzata Fuszara from Gender Studies

election is over. Participatory democracy, as the

at the University of Warsaw, and later the former

New Left understood it in the 1960s, was highly

Government Plenipotentiaries for Equal Status

saturated with ideology. Meanwhile, in our part of

made beautiful speeches about it.

the world, civil society uses categories like “serv-

ice”, “idealism” and “good taste” instead of the

About forms other than parties and NGOs, as a

categories of political views and group interests.

person fascinated by American feminism and the

There is still a lot of resentment towards the Left

history of fighting for civil rights of African Ameri-

in the Polish civil society, because it brings into

cans, I promote a vision of membership organisa-

mind Marx and Lenin. This is not acceptable to

tions. Democracy and progress in minority rights

people born in Communist Poland. This lack of

in the US are not based on small foundations, but

political involvement facilitates smooth operation

on giants, like the National Association for the Ad-

of the system: we left the economy to neoliberal

vancement of Colored People (NAACP) or the Na-

experts, values to the bishops, left-wing views

tional Organisation for Women (NOW). They are

to the Post-Communists and idealism to NGOs.

large organisations with hundreds of thousands

Thus we built a gap between the needs of our po-

of members, with budgets based on subscription,

tential electorate and whatever we are able to of-

which lobby, bring people into the parliament and

fer to it. We need to think it over anew. Perhaps

– importantly – are internally democratic. NGOs

my generation is already lost to the revolution,

often complain about the lack of civil activity, but

but yours – not necessarily so.

one must remember that an average person par-

ticipates in political activity by writing a check

PS: Thank you.

or sending an e-mail, and not by taking to bar-

ricades. In Poland there is little opportunity to get

involved in civil activity, and it is those little ac-

Agnieszka Graff – specialist in English lan-

tions and the ensuing esprit de corps, which con-

guage and literature, feminist, co-founder of

stitute a foundation for building a politicised civil

Porozumienie Kobiet 8 Marca (“The March 8

society. At the moment, NGOs are not connected

Women’s Alliance”). Member of the “Krytyka

with the society, because a citizen approaches

Polityczna” editorial team. Scholarship holder

an NGO as a supplicant. Neither do they have a

of the Fulbright Foundation. She publishes sci-

connection with the political system, which they

entific and journalistic texts in, among others,

theoretically should influence, because they lack

“Krytyka Polityczna”, “Feminist Studies”, “Res

political power derived from representation. This

Publica Nowa”, “Kultura i Społeczeństwo”,

is a vicious circle we must break free from.

“Ośka”, “Zadra”, “Gazeta Wyborcza”, “Rzeczp-

ospolita”. She works at the American Studies

PS: I get the impression that membership organi-

Center of the University of Warsaw, and is a

sations are a step towards professionalisation of

lecturer at post-graduate Gender Studies. Her

social movements, but not necessarily towards

book Świat bez kobiet (World without Women,

participatory democracy.

2001) is one of the most important publica-

tions of Polish feminist literature. It analyses

AG: I would not agree. Professional does not nec-

the mechanisms of gradual exclusion of wom-

essarily mean undemocratic, and being a member

en’s voice from the public sphere in condi-

of something large gives a sense of participation.

tions of system transformation. In her next

We cannot lose sight of the specific characteris-

book, Rykoszetem. Rzecz o płci, seksualności

tics of our history: in Eastern Europe, there was

i narodzie (Ricochet: on Gender, Sexuality and

a transition from the dissident participatory de-

Nation, 2008) she takes a look at relations be-

mocracy of the communist times to the facade

tween Polish nationalism and gender.

Polish Shades of Green

41

8. The Greens without ecology?

ested in steelworkers and miners, while oppos-

Przemysław Sadura talks to Jacek

ing the conservative, PiS-style Right (PiS, Prawo i

Żakowski about the future, frogs and

Sprawiedliwość - Law and Justice Party) and the

people.

Liberals from the Civic Platform (Platforma Oby-

watelska, PO). It is a massive operation requir-

Przemysław Sadura: Since the 1970s, and cer-

ing broad mobilisation and defining the “being

tainly since the 1980s, Green parties have been a

green” in a manner yet unknown to Poles. Such a

permanent element of the West European politi-

formation could replace the dying SLD.

cal scene. Recently, the Greens have joined pow-

er structures in some of the new EU countries.

PS: Such a party – as anyone wanting to get prac-

Why are they still confined to the fringes of politi-

tically involved in Polish political life – will face

cal life in Poland?

a difficult task. Cartelisation of the party system

is not conducive to introducing new actors to the

Jacek Żakowski: Obviously, the reasons are nu-

political scene, as the Women’s Party (Partia Ko-

merous, but the main one is the weakness of

biet) has recently found out. How do you see the

leadership. To create a political movement one

chances of breaking the monopoly of PO-PiS in

needs a certain charisma, and there is no charis-

politics?

matic personality in Poland who could become a

symbol for this party. Look at Germany: Joschka

JŻ: The Women’s Party was more affected by

Fischer has never been the leader of the Greens

being an element of a promotion campaign for

there, but he symbolises the party.

a book by a certain female writer than by the

cartelisation of the party system. How do I see

PS: So the obstacle is not the lack of potential

the evolution of the political scene? I expect ad-

electorate?

vancing marginalisation of PiS, which has gone

into a slide, just as Samoobrona (Self-Defence of

JŻ: It depends on how we define “green”. If we do

the Republic of Poland) did a few years earlier.

not limit it to conservation of frogs and trees, but

The difference is that Samoobrona was becoming

treat it broadly, as seeking harmony between civi-

increasingly up-market, whilst PiS is radicalising

lisation and nature, maintaining balance between

in an anarchic sense. The worse they are doing,

work and home, supporting values other than

the more anarchic they become, and the more

consumption, the demand is going to be very high.

anarchic they become, the deeper they slide. This

There is no shortage of people who will support

will push them to the bottom, i.e. to support level

the vision of a society founded on social cohesion,

of 7-10%. The SLD has no potential. The recently

equality of roles and opportunities. The problem

publicised results of the research of the party’s

is that the Greens in Poland are associated with

activists confirmed what had been obvious for a

frogs. There is this ad, in which cows stop to let a

long time: it is a party of right-wing Post-Com-

snail cross the road. This is what the Greens do:

munists, which has nothing to offer to anybody

they teach cows to make way for a snail. This is a

except the Post-Communists. That is why, in fact,

dead end – you cannot win an election by defend-

the system we have is a mono-party, and not a

ing snails. You can win it by defending life and the

bipolar one. There are two theories about further

world. This stereotype has established itself by

developments. According to one, the mono-party

now, and it will be difficult to change, but I see

system is going to consolidate, and the Platform

an urgent need for such change. In Poland, we

will win the presidential election and obtain 48-

have a large group of people thinking about “be-

55% of votes. I do not believe it possible. Sooner

ing green” in a holistic manner. This group either

or later, all sorts of processes of erosion and dis-

did not take part in the elections, or sought sup-

integration are going to commence, as they usu-

port from the SLD (Sojusz Lewicy Demokratycz-

ally do in a mono-party. The only exception was

nej - Democratic Left Alliance), and earlier from

the CSU,52 but that is exactly why it used to be a

the Freedom Union (Unia Wolności, UW). It is

global phenomenon. Were we to conduct a mar-

nevertheless necessary to find leadership, which

ket analysis and ask if there is room for a “green

will be able to define a vision distinctly different

product”, I believe the answer would be “yes”.

from the traditional Left, class-oriented, inter-

52 Die Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands - The Christian Democratic Union of Germany.

42

PS: Are the PO voters the target group for this

JŻ: We are already dealing with both. On the one

product?

hand, the Right has stolen a large part of the

Left’s programme. It is a sort of vicious revenge

JŻ: A large proportion of PO voters voted for it as

for what had happened in the times of Tony Blair

an anti-PiS party. This could be significant dur-

and Bill Clinton, when the Left stole the pro-

ing one election, but along with the weakening of

gramme from the Right. In other words – it is

PiS the weight of this factor is going to decrease.

payback time. Most of the Left-Wing and Green

Were the election to take place today, the turnout

slogans – except those concerning the economy -

would be some 10 percentage points lower. Those

have been appropriated by the Right.

who would miss the election this time are the po-

tential electorate of the new, Green, Left-Wing or

PS: What you are talking about now, is the situa-

New Left party. The trouble is that at this point we

tion abroad, and the New Right Sarkozy style.

encounter a barrier of various programme ele-

ments, such as the attitude towards nuclear pow-

JŻ: I am talking about Poland as well. Perhaps

er. I believe it would be difficult to find anybody

not frogs, but organic farming is an element of

opposed to nuclear energy among this group.

the PSL’s programme (PSL, Polskie Stronnictwo

Ludowe - Polish People’s Party) and its vision

PS: It looks like Jacek Żakowski, without any re-

of Poland. Obviously, in the West this process is

search, knew what we discovered after months of

far more advanced. But even here, if we look at

field work. Before I change my profession, there

things from the equality perspective, the first fe-

is one more issue: we have a problem, because

male prime minister was Conservative-Liberal

the Polish Greens are distinguished from SLD

Hanna Suchocka. This is arriving with the EU.

activists by their great ideological passion. The

You mentioned recycling – it is important. Today,

entire movement is going to face the dilemma

if you have a small detached house, it is impos-

of how far it can diverge from its present postu-

sible to avoid segregating waste. A patrol comes

lates in the name of increasing its influence upon

and it can fine you – it is ecological terror. No civil

Polish politics.

servant ever visits about other issues, but about

this – they do. In this sense, the Greens cannot

JŻ: This is a tension, which – to reach for a vo-

demand recycling in this day and age, since it

cabulary from a different era – is always present

has become a form of state oppression. In this

during the phase of transition between an elite-

way, the Greens are becoming victims of their

based party and a mass-based party. Once again,

own success, because ecological repressions are

everything depends on how you define “being

gaining momentum. Unlike in Germany, where

green”. To me, one of the elements of this con-

environmental awareness is very high, in Poland

cept is rationality, which is difficult to reconcile

protection of the environment is not well rooted

with doctrinal enmity towards nuclear power.

in convictions of the public, and it is viewed as a

Particularly in the context of what we know about

new sort of oppression.

the harmfulness of other energy sources. If you

want to occupy a serious position at the political

PS: And Poles do not like force.

scene, you cannot limit yourself to merely ex-

pressing your views. You must consider other fac-

JŻ: Ecology is like socialism. If Communist Po-

tors, not necessarily opportunistic ones. It can be

land was created as a result of a class revolution,

down to the sense of responsibility. Today, I would

it would be socially accepted, maybe even suc-

not be persuaded that nuclear power plants are

cessful. We do not know. But it arrived on Russian

more harmful than those powered by lignite.

bayonets. Conservation is rigorously imposed on

Brussels and then on Warsaw. This causes resist-

PS: And how do you see the phenomenon, which

ance. How can a patrol come and dig in my rub-

has been occurring for some time now, of certain

bish? I put away batteries, but voluntarily. If some

green demands being taken over by the media and

day, to buy a battery, I will have to return a used

politicians of mainstream parties often not con-

one (as used to be the case in Communist Po-

nected with the Left? Even if this process is shal-

land), I will get angry. The Greens’ success turns

low and concerns issues like recycling, it does take

against them, because their ideas are introduced

place. To what extent do those actions facilitate de-

by way of state force. In this context, it seems all

velopment of “green” thinking in the society, and

the more important to show the symbolic place

what danger do they pose for Green politicians?

of a container for used batteries in the holistic

Polish Shades of Green

43

vision of the world. This requires a charismatic

word. There is no social ecology. This is a trap.

leader, who will translate those messages to so-

Such an approach may make sense in Germany,

cial ideas, and mobilise people. In America, such

but environmental sensitivity there is at a differ-

a person was Al Gore.

ent level. In Poland it fails to mobilise, because

it is perceived as eccentricity. All the Greens can

PS: This sounds better, because for a moment I

see are the frogs. I remember a conversation

was afraid to hear: this cannot be done, unless

between one of the outstanding Solidarity politi-

you go through a May ’68 and a spontaneous,

cians and Waldemar Pawlak,53 during which the

grassroots green revolution.

former said to the latter: “to us it is people who

matter, and with you it is just cows and horses...”.

JŻ: No. I believe it is a question of strong, intel-

Perhaps this was true about the PSL at the very

ligent, persuasive leadership. In Poland there are

beginning, perhaps all they saw was farming. But

no writers, publicists or journalists who would

Pawlak managed to rebuild his party. Today, the

describe the world from this perspective. It is al-

PSL has views about the stock exchange, about

ways frogs, rubbish, CO . This is not about CO !

interest rates and operation of banks. Does the

2

2

To the Germans it is completely obvious, and they

Green party have an opinion about the way the

are protesting against longer working hours for

stock exchange operates and how it should be

the same reasons as against the extinction of

regulated? Either it does not, or its opinion is not

frogs. It is only the Poles, who cannot put the two

audible. If the party proposed paternity leaves and

together.

at the same time dealt with protecting the frogs,

it would embrace the Green vision of reality in a

PS: And when this leader finally appears, he or

broader sense. If the Greens pull away from the

she will carry away the masses and the young? In

environment a little, they may change their party

your latest texts you expressed high hopes con-

into an important political formation dominating

nected with the young generation of Poles. You

the new Left.

wrote about their increasing social and political

involvement. Our research shows something op-

PS: We are ending on an optimistic note. Thank

posite. How is it then? Will they become politi-

you.

cally active, like the young Americans during the

last election?

Jacek Żakowski – journalist and publicist. Cur-

JŻ: I do believe so. It requires fulfilling a few con-

rently cooperates with the “Polityka” weekly.

ditions though. Why are Zieloni 2004 and “Kry-

Former spokesman of the Civil Parliamentary

tyka Polityczna” unable to create a united front?

Club (Obywatelski Klub Parlamentarny – OKP),

Change will be impossible without it. Obama

one of the founders of “Gazeta Wyborcza” and

could combine aspirations of different groups of

the first President of the Polish Information

Americans who were against the neoliberal and

Agency (Polska Agencja Informacyjna). Winner

neoconservative style of thinking. How come the

of several prizes: Ksawery Pruszyński Polish

feminists are friends with the Greens, and at the

PEN Club (1988), Journalist of the Year (1997),

same time the Women’s Party emerges, and it

two Wiktors (1997). Author and presenter of

competes with the Greens? I believe this is a re-

many excellent television programmes. Di-

sult of the fact that the Greens in Poland are still

rector of the Journalism Programme at Col-

seen – and they see themselves in this way – as

legium Civitas in Warsaw.

an ecological party in the traditional sense of the

53 Waldemar Pawlak – leader of the Polish People’s Party (PSL); currently (as of December 2008) Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy in Poland (Editor).

15 Rue d’Arlon l B-1050 Brussels

T +32 (2) 234 65 70 l F +32 (2) 234 65 79

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