Where did the myth of successful transformation come from?
At the turn of the 80s and 90s, social expectations of political and economic transformation were high. Meanwhile, the course of especially the economic transformation ended with a rapid deindustrialisation of the country, which was particularly visible in Lodz. Despite this, numerous commentators still claim that the transformation was successful and the topic itself has been insufficiently studied by both historians and economists. During the debate, together with the speakers, we will try to find the reasons for this state of affairs.
The invited speakers include:
- dr hab. Krzysztof Lesiakowski – an expert on the political history of Poland and Lodz after 1945;
- Prof. Zdzisława Janowska – an economist, management expert;
- Prof. Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski – an economist, author of academic textbooks and analyses;
- dr Anna Brzezińska – a researcher of Polish and universal historiography of the 20th century.
Chair: dr Marcin Szymański – a historian, author of many award-winning books about Lodz
It has been over 30 years since Poland embarked on a path of a political transformation, a difficult change spread over the years, which included a rapid reconstruction of the economy as well as the whole society. Lodz, an industrial giant and the second largest city after Warsaw, has been particularly affected by the transformation changes. Decommissioning of the industry, unemployment, shrinking city and broken social networks do not fit into the story of a successful path to free markets and democracy.
Why and how did industrial plants from Lodz collapse?
The series of four meetings focused on the Lodz transformation brings together the voices of researchers trying to answer these difficult questions. The following debate "The Price of Great Silence" will be held on 3 November at the Faculty of Economics and Sociology (P.O.W. 3/5, Assembly Hall C101, 3 November – Thursday at 5 p.m.) and will address the issue of social costs of the transformation. The last meeting on the situation of cultural institutions at the turn of the 80s and 90s of the20th century, will take place on 24 November in Museum of Art in Lodz, ms2, Ogrodowa 19 at 6 p.m.
Admission to all the events is FREE OF CHARGE.
The audience, apart from the substantive debate, will have the opportunity to receive a unique publication. Everyone who takes part in at least 3 of 4 debates will get the book "“Wielki przemysł, wielka cisza. Łódzkie zakłady przemysłowe 1945 - 2000” [Big Industry, Great Silence. Industrial plants of Lodz 1945 - 2000"], published in 2020 by the Lodz University Press and the Topography Association. The book was recognised as the best book about Lodz in the year of publication by the Jozef Pilsudski Regional and Municipal Public Library in Lodz.
The project partners are: Central Museum of Textiles in Lodz, University of Lodz and Museum of Art in Lodz.
Task "Koniec, czyli zmiana. Debaty o transformacji w Łodzi po 1989 r." [The end – change. Debates on the transformation in Lodz after 1989], is carried out thanks to the co-financing from the budget of the City of Lodz.
Task: Printing of the book "“Wielki przemysł, wielka cisza. Łódzkie zakłady przemysłowe 1945 - 2000” was implemented thanks to the co-financing from the budget of the City of Lodz.
Source: Topography Association
Edit: Promotion Centre, University of Lodz