After Martial Law: Disarray in the Western Camp

Abstract

During the night of 13 December 1981, the process of democratisation in Poland came to an abrupt halt. In a speech to the Polish nation, General Jaruzelski announced the imposition of martial law and the creation of a Military Council of National Salvation. The proclaimed objectives of martial law were to restore the rule of law, order and discipline and to create guarantees for the normal working of the state administration.¹ Poland’s borders were closed, internal and external lines of communication were shut down, basic civil rights were suspended and Solidarity members and dissidents were interned. Although the authorities claimed that martial law was only a temporary measure aimed at restoring order, and not the end of the reform process altogether, all the independent unions established since August 1980 were gradually banned. On 8 October 1982, the Sejm banned Solidarity itself. By the time martial law was lifted in July 1983, all its measures had been incorporated into the legal system.³