Revisiting the Legacy of Solidarity in Contemporary Europe
Polish Institute Berlin hosts dialogue on memory, migration, and transformation
May 21st, 2026
On 4 June 2026, the Polish Institute Berlin will host The Many Dreams of the Solidarity Generation, a public discussion examining the long-term impact of the Solidarity movement on individual lives and collective memory. Held at the Institute’s gallery and conducted in German, the event will bring together author Ewa-Maria Slaska and historian Florian Peters, moderated by writer and cultural manager Dorota Danielewicz, offering a multidisciplinary reflection on one of the defining movements of late 20th-century Europe.
The discussion draws on Ewa-Maria Slaska’s recent book Amerykański sen (American Dream), an autofictional narrative grounded in documentary elements. The work follows the trajectories of Solidarity activists from Gdańsk who emigrated to West Berlin and later to the United States in pursuit of freedom during the 1980s. While the August Agreements of 1980 marked a historic moment of civic empowerment, the event will explore how these experiences evolved over time, particularly as migration, economic realities, and life in the West reshaped personal and political identities. The conversation will also address how the ideals of Solidarity were transformed—or in some cases overshadowed—by the challenges of post-socialist transition.
Florian Peters, a historian at Friedrich Schiller University Jena, will contribute a broader analytical perspective on the movement’s historical and socio-economic context. His research, including the book From Solidarity to Shock Therapy: How Capitalism Came to Poland (Ch. Links Verlag, 2023), examines the profound transformations that followed the end of state socialism in Central and Eastern Europe. Together with Slaska’s personal and literary insights, the discussion will situate individual biographies within wider processes of political change, migration, and economic restructuring in Poland and beyond.
Organised by the Polish Institute Berlin, the event forms part of Poland’s ongoing cultural diplomacy efforts in Germany, reinforcing dialogue on shared European history within a bilateral framework. By addressing themes such as democratic movements, migration, and systemic transformation, the discussion contributes to a deeper understanding of Europe’s recent past and its continuing implications. Such initiatives also carry strategic relevance, as they engage public audiences with questions of political identity, memory culture, and socio-economic transition—issues that remain central to European cohesion and policy discourse.
Ultimately, The Many Dreams of the Solidarity Generation highlights the enduring significance of Solidarity not only as a historical movement but as a lived experience with lasting consequences. By connecting personal narratives with broader historical analysis, the event underscores the importance of cultural platforms in sustaining dialogue, preserving memory, and strengthening long-term intellectual and cultural ties between Poland and Germany.
