1 A tragic advance
-
Gavin Rae
Abstract
Tadeusz Kowalik was raised in a peasant family in the village of Kajetanówka, situated in one of the poorest regions of eastern Poland. He experienced the harsh conditions of pre-war Polish capitalism, which drew him to the values and ideas of socialism. He then lived through the horrors of Nazi occupation and war. After the Second World War he and his family underwent rapid social advancement. By early adulthood, he had risen to a prominent position and integrated himself into one of the most dynamic and creative intellectual milieus of the socialist bloc at this time. Meanwhile, his life experiences, readings, activities in the co-operative movement and observations of the new political authorities led him to take a critical, although supportive, stance towards the new socialist system.
Abstract
Tadeusz Kowalik was raised in a peasant family in the village of Kajetanówka, situated in one of the poorest regions of eastern Poland. He experienced the harsh conditions of pre-war Polish capitalism, which drew him to the values and ideas of socialism. He then lived through the horrors of Nazi occupation and war. After the Second World War he and his family underwent rapid social advancement. By early adulthood, he had risen to a prominent position and integrated himself into one of the most dynamic and creative intellectual milieus of the socialist bloc at this time. Meanwhile, his life experiences, readings, activities in the co-operative movement and observations of the new political authorities led him to take a critical, although supportive, stance towards the new socialist system.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- Preface viii
- Acknowledgements xi
- List of abbreviations xii
- Introduction 1
- 1 A tragic advance 18
- 2 Socialist pluralism 33
- 3 Krzywicki and friends 60
- 4 The political and intellectual ferment after 1956 76
- 5 Luxemburg, Kalecki and the crucial reform of capitalism 92
- 6 Flying to Gdańsk 107
- 7 Converging from socialism 129
- 8 The shock of betrayal 146
- 9 Varieties of capitalism 165
- 10 No left turn 180
- 11 Back to the future 196
- Afterword 214
- Index 218
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- Preface viii
- Acknowledgements xi
- List of abbreviations xii
- Introduction 1
- 1 A tragic advance 18
- 2 Socialist pluralism 33
- 3 Krzywicki and friends 60
- 4 The political and intellectual ferment after 1956 76
- 5 Luxemburg, Kalecki and the crucial reform of capitalism 92
- 6 Flying to Gdańsk 107
- 7 Converging from socialism 129
- 8 The shock of betrayal 146
- 9 Varieties of capitalism 165
- 10 No left turn 180
- 11 Back to the future 196
- Afterword 214
- Index 218
