Human Rights and Political Dissent in Central Europe: Between the Helsinki Accords and the Fall of the Berlin Wall (Routledge Studies in Human Rights)

"This volume examines to what extent the positive atmosphere created by the Helsinki Accords contributed to the change in political circumstances seen in the countries of Central Europe, under Soviet domination. It focuses in particular on - firstly - a consequent new impetus to bolster human rights in international politics, as Western democracies - especially the US - integrated human rights concerns into its foreign policy relations with Soviet Bloc countries and - secondly - how this Western embrace of human rights seemed to create new incentives for increased dissident activity in Central and Eastern Europe and from 1976 onward. Finally, the book reminds us of the significant role of the Helsinki Accords in developing democratic practices in Eastern European societies under Soviet domination in 1975-1989 and in creating the conditions for the peaceful transition to democratic government in the years that followed. This book will be of key interest to scholars and students of the history of communism, post-Soviet, Russian, and central and East European politics, the history of human rights, and democratization"-- Provided by publisher This volume examines to what extent the positive atmosphere created by the Helsinki Accords contributed to the change in political circumstances seen in the countries of Central Europe under Soviet domination. It focuses in particular on—firstly—a consequent a new impetus to bolster human rights in international politics, in the same way as Western democracies—especially the US—integrated human rights concerns into its foreign policy relations with Soviet Bloc countries and—secondly—how this Western embrace of human rights seemed to create new incentives for increased dissident activity in Central and Eastern Europe from 1976 onward. Finally, the book reminds us of the significant role of the Helsinki Accords in developing democratic practices in Eastern European societies under Soviet domination in 1975–1989 and in creating the conditions for the peaceful transition to democratic government in the years that followed. This book will be of key interest to scholars and students of the history of communism, post-Soviet, Russian, and central and East European politics, the history of human rights, and democratization. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Series Page 3 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Table of Contents 6 List of contributors 8 Introduction: Human rights and political dissent in Central Europe: between the Helsinki Accords and the fall of the Berlin wall 12 1. US Policy toward political opposition in Poland (1975–1981) 18 2. Human rights in British policy on Poland (1975–1979) 33 3. Basket III provisions in the policies of France and the Federal Republic of Germany toward the Polish People’s Republic (1975–1980): A comparative approach 50 4. Human rights in the policy of Sweden toward Poland 1975–19811 64 5. Between human rights and national opposition: Polish opposition 1976–1989 77 6. Exit, voice, duplicity: Human rights in Romanian understanding (1975–1989) 91 7. The Catholic Church, human rights and the democratic opposition in communist Poland: The case of Father Ludwik Wis ́niewski 108 8. The role of human rights in the situation of the Slovak church and persecution of Christians in Slovakia in 1975–1989 122 9. John Paul II on human rights in Poland 133 10. Political opposition, human rights, and political changes in Czechoslovakia in 1989 148 11. Resistance, dissent, and opposition movements: Antecedents of the Hungarian regime change 163 12. Revisiting the revolution of 1989: The end of the communist rule in Romania 183 13. The United States and Hungary, 1956–1990 198 14. The Polish American Congress, Polish diaspora, and human rights movement in Poland 213 15. The ideas of human rights and their impact during and after Soviet rule 231 Index 246 Introduction; 1 US Policy toward political opposition in Poland (1975–1981)1; 2 Human rights in British policy on Poland (1975–1979)1; 3 Basket III provisions in the policies of France and the Federal Republic of Germany toward the Polish People's Republic (1975–1980)1; 4 Human rights in the policy of Sweden toward Poland 1975–19811; 5 Between human rights and national opposition; "6 Exit,voice,duplicity"; "7 The Catholic Church,human rights and the democratic opposition in communist Poland"; 8 The role of human rights in the situation of the Slovak church and persecution of Christians in Slovakia in 1975–1989; 9 John Paul II on human rights in Poland; "10 Political opposition,human rights,and political changes in Czechoslovakia in 1989"; "11 Resistance,dissent,and opposition movements"; 12 Revisiting the revolution of 1989; "13 The United States and Hungary,1956–1990"; "14 The Polish American Congress,Polish diaspora,and human rights movement in Poland"; 15 The ideas of human rights and their impact during and after Soviet rule Introduction,1 US Policy toward political opposition in Poland (1975–1981)1,2 Human rights in British policy on Poland (1975–1979)1,3 Basket III provisions in the policies of France and the Federal Republic of Germany toward the Polish People's Republic (1975–1980)1,4 Human rights in the policy of Sweden toward Poland 1975–19811,5 Between human rights and national opposition,6 Exit, voice, duplicity,7 The Catholic Church, human rights and the democratic opposition in communist Poland,8 The role of human rights in the situation of the Slovak church and persecution of Christians in Slovakia in 1975–1989,9 John Paul II on human rights in Poland,10 Political opposition, human rights, and political changes in Czechoslovakia in 1989,11 Resistance, dissent, and opposition movements,12 Revisiting the revolution of 1989,13 The United States and Hungary, 1956–1990,14 The Polish American Congress, Polish diaspora, and human rights movement in Poland,15 The ideas of human rights and their impact during and after Soviet rule