Professionals, Power and Solidarity in Poland: A Critical Sociology of Soviet-Type Society

by Michael D. Kennedy

Overview

Michael Kennedy develops a theoretical conception of Soviet-type societies by analyzing Solidarity's significance on three levels. First, he explains the background to and nature of the conflict between Solidarity and the authorities by examining the relation between the distribution of power and movement strategies. Second, he considers the implications of Solidarity's struggle for the theory of the Soviet-type system's reproduction and transformation by offering a critique and synthesis of relevant theories of class and civil society. Third, he examines the internal constitution of Solidarity in terms of gender and, in particular, cross-class alliances. He argues that because engineers and physicians were dependent on the self-organized working class in this conflict between civil society and state, professional projects had to be recast in visions suitable to the alliance. In a concluding chapter, he explores the implications of his analysis both for understanding perestroika in the Soviet Union and more generally for reformulating a critical sociology of Soviet-type societies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521390835
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	02/14/1991
Series:	Cambridge Russian, Soviet and Post-Soviet Studies , #79
Pages:	444
Product dimensions:	6.22(w) x 9.29(h) x 1.22(d)

Table of Contents

List of tables; Acknowledgments; List of abbreviations; Introduction; Part I. Solidarity and Social Transformation: 1. The historical genealogy of Solidarity; 2. The nature and causes of Solidarity; 3. The Solidarity movement as emancipatory praxis; Part II. Solidarity and the Theory of Soviet-type Society: 4. Solidarity, modernization and class; 5. Solidarity, culture and civil society; 6. A theory of power relations in Soviet-type society; Part III. Professionals and Solidarity: 7. Professionals, power and prestige; 8. Engineers in Solidarity; 9. Physicians in Solidarity; Part IV. Conclusion: 10. Critical sociology and Soviet-type society; Notes; References; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"In formulating his theory of power relations in Soviet-type society Kennedy ranges over a number of literatures including marxist, post-marxist, structuralist and functionalist theory. The result is an impressive synthesis....Kennedy has made an important contribution to our understanding of Solidarity and the problems associated with the transformation of Soviet-type systems." Michael Bernhard, Slavic Review

"Future students of this most significant period of the twentieth century will find Kennedy's book a valuable, though difficult and challenging, resource." Bronislaw Misztal, Contemporary Sociology

From the Publisher