LESZEK KOLAKOWSKI
The idea that the present form of socialism is absolutely rigid
and can be destroyed only at one blow, and that partial changes
constitute, in effect, no change at all, can easily be used to justify
opportunism and downright swinishness. For if the system is totally
rigid, no individual or collective effort against the monstrosities of
neo-Stalinist bureaucracy, no struggle to preserve a respect for truth,
competence, decency, justice, and reason, is of any significance; and
every form of swinishness is seen as part of the universal swinishness
of the system. The thesis of
nonreformability
can then be used as a
pardon granted in advance to any act of cowardice, passivity, and
collaboration with evil. The fact that a large part of Poland's intel–
ligentsia has let itself be persuaded of the nonelasticity of the system
largely accounts for its passivity during the uprising of Polish workers
in December 1970.
The greatest disservice that can be done to the cause of Polish
independence and democracy is to perpetuate the traditional nation–
alist anti-Russian stereotypes. Despite the risk involved in inciting the
various nationalisms within the Soviet "sphere of influence," they are
an indispensable instrument for maintaining the status quo, particu–
larly in the absence of an international ideology. Hence Polish anti–
Russian nationalism simply contributes to the strengthening of Rus–
sian nationalism, and helps perpetuate the slavery of both nations.
Despite the threat of Soviet power and the actual invasion of
Czechoslovakia, the centrifugal tendencies within the "bloc" cannot
be contained; the corrosive forces of nationalism will go on eating
away at an organism without ideological cohesion. But a disintegra–
tion fueled by national antagonisms may end in an apocalyptic mas–
sacre.
If
we can counteract this frightening prospect, it is only by
returning to the traditional, old-fashioned idea of brotherhood among
nations.
(Translated from the Polish by Gustaw Linke)
EDITOR' S NOTE:
This is a shortened version 01 the original manuscript which
appeared in
New Politics,
Fall
1971,
and was published,
in
Polish,
in Monthly
Review Kaltura,
June
1971.
