Dissidents of totalitarianism
in the Communist regimes of Central Europe
So-called “dissent” in the communist regimes of Eastern Europe cannot be reduced to the simple connotation of “opposition” suggested by the definition, but should be considered above all as an attempt to build a “parallel polis”. Based on individual responsibility, the “parallel polis” was to take over areas of cultural, social and human freedom within the social fabric from the totalitarian regime. The leaders of Charter ’77 and Solidarnosc, such as Vaclav Havel, Radim Palous, Jacek Kuron and Adam Michnik, always emphasized that “the power of the powerless” lies in overcoming fear through the strength generated by a sense of collective responsibility, testified by the exhortation “to live truth” in a society based on lies. Very often their “dissent” was expressed by demanding that existing laws, such as that of freedom of conscience, and international agreements signed by their countries, such as the Helsinki Accords, should be duly applied. This led to a broad movement that was effectively able to influence the behaviour and mentality of the general public. In fact – except in Rumania – the totalitarian system was overthrown peacefully, without bloodshed, with new leaders recognized by the majority of the population, ready to take on the responsibility of the res publica.
Blaga Dimitrova (Bulgaria)
Ahmed Demir Dogan (Bulgaria)
Radoj Ralin (Bulgaria)
Zelu Zelev (Bulgaria)
Vaclav Benda (Czechoslovakia)
Jan Carnogursky (Czechoslovakia)
Miklos Duray (Czechoslovakia)
Vaclav Havel (Czechoslovakia)
Jan Chryzostom Korec (Czechoslovakia)
Dana Nemcova (Czechoslovakia)
Jan Palach (Czechoslovakia)
Jan Patocka (Czechoslovakia)
Anna Sabatova (Czechoslovakia)
Josef Zverina (Czechoslovakia)
Wolf Biermann (East Germany)
Barbel Bohley (East Germany)
Robert Havemann (East Germany)
Reiner Kunze (East Germany)
Walter Schilling (East Germany)
Istvan Bibo (Hungary)
Ferenc Donath (Hungary)
Janos Kenedi (Hungary)
Cardinal Jozsef Mindszenty (Hungary)
Ottilia Solt (Hungary)
Miklos Szabo (Hungary)
Wladyslaw Bartoszewski (Poland)
Bogdan Borusewicz (Poland)
Marek Edelman (Poland)
Bronislaw Geremek (Poland)
Ryszard Kaczorowski (Poland)
Lech Kaczynski (Poland)
Janusz Krupski (Poland)
Jacek Kuron (Poland)
Tadeusz Masowiecki (Poland)
Adam Michnik (Poland)
Maciej Plazynski (Poland)
Father Jerzy Popieluszko (Poland)
Arkadiusz Rybicki (Poland)
Anna Walentynowicz (Poland)
Lech Walesa (Poland)
Gabriel Andreescu (Rumania)
Doina Cornea (Rumania)
Mircea Dinescu (Rumania)
Vasile Paraschiv (Rumania)
Laszlo Tokes (Rumania)
Ion Vianu (Rumania)
