Look Who it Was Random video

Aleksander Smolar - Karol Modzelewski (174/201)

303 views · Published 20 December 2018 · 1:42 · Indexed 4 November 2026

Channel: Web of Stories - Life Stories of Remarkable People · 2018 · News & Politics

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To listen to more of Aleksander Smolar’s stories, go to the playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVV0r6CmEsFwlxPLurqAOCrabBgGrqLA7

Aleksander Smolar (b. 1940) is a Polish writer, political activist and adviser, vice-president of the Institute for Human Sciences and president of the Stefan Batory Foundation. [Listener: Vitek Tracz]

TRANSCRIPT: Karol Modzelewski chose a different role – the role he chose was the one that Jacek wanted to choose. There was tension between them and conflict, as Karol… but he'd left politics and not for the first time. He was confronted by something which also characterised my life, although the situations he faced were always far more radical, and he undoubtedly possesses far greater skills but he was always torn between research and political engagement. He had phases; when he entered into politics he went to prison, or following '89 when he entered the Sejm. He was also jailed when he wrote the open letter with [Jacek] and then he'd return to research as soon as he could and would cut himself off from politics altogether. He would go through phases, although after '89 he didn't withdraw from politics and became a deputy in OKP, the Solidarność faction, but once there he immediately opposed Mazowiecki's first government. This meant that a faction was formed of left-wing deputies who were opposed to liberal economic reforms and who spoke up for those who are and will be paying for them. So he was consistent but I have to say that I was offended by the position that he adopted.

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