Memory of the Round Table – Presidential Palace, Warsaw

Fact of the Polish figure „The Round Table – 1989”

Part of the „Dreaming about the democracy” topic

The Round Table is among the most controversial events in Polish history and was until recently a major point of debate in Polish politics. This is because it reflects a real split in memory. One side argues that the Round Table Agreement prevented bloodshed and a civil war similar to Romania’s. Supporters of this view are members of the former Solidarity movement who represented it at the time, along with the post-communist environment that claimed a role in helping Poland become a democratic nation. On the other side, there were accusations of betrayal by the Solidarity elite. These supporters claimed that there was a lack of trials for Security Service officers and no accountability for crimes committed during martial law. Some even believed that the entire transfer of power had been planned by the communists years earlier, with SB agents sitting at the table. As a result, issues like economic reforms and the privatization of state assets were seen as failures caused by communist infiltration. Words like „betrayal” and “deal” are common in this narrative and continue to influence discussions today. Fortunately, the topic of the Round Table is now shifting from collective memory to scholarly history.