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Polish activist Jacek Kuroń (1934-2004) helped to transform the political landscape of Poland. He was expelled from the communist party, arrested and incarcerated. He was also instrumental in setting up Workers' Defence Committee (KOR) and became a Minister of Labour and Social Policy. [Listeners: Jacek Petrycki, Marcel Łoziński; date recorded: 1987]
TRANSCRIPT: [Q] The authorities in '81 broke the agreement, they didn't keep their word. Do you think that now they...
If we are going to talk in terms of marital issues, love, then of course we can have a chat but then it won't be a conversation about politics. My understanding is that if I've made a date with a girl, I can wonder whether she'll keep her word or not. In politics, however, I suggest that categories of that kind are not taken into account because the essence of politics lies in the distribution of power. The problem is: what is the distribution of power? In 1980 they initially gave in because that's how the distribution of power looked and they weren't able to break this. Then, they prepared to alter this by the use of arms, after which it transpired that although they had altered it a little, it was still not enough to solve the problems. They didn't solve the problems so, of course, they can try to change things using force once again but they already know that this will be futile.
