Economic Problems in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union
The Economic Crisis of the 1970s and 1980s
- Consumer Goods Shortages: Eastern European states struggled to provide basic consumer goods, leading to widespread dissatisfaction.
- Rising Food Prices: Crop failures in the late 1970s escalated food prices, sparking protests and strikes.
- Foreign Debt: Countries like Poland accumulated massive foreign debts, deepening economic depression.
In Poland, strikes began as early as June 1976 in Ursus, leading to the formation of the Workers' Defence Committee (KOR) to support jailed workers.
The Role of Economic Distress in Political Dissent
- Poland: The government's decision to raise food prices in July 1980 led to nationwide strikes, culminating in the Gdansk Agreement and the formation of Solidarity, the first independent trade union in a communist country.
- Czechoslovakia: Despite a relatively higher standard of living, economic stagnation fueled dissent among intellectuals and dissidents like Václav Havel.
