The Italian Socialist Party (PSI) and the Dissidence beyond the Iron Curtain: the Polish Case in the Craxi–Solidarność Relations

Il Partito Socialista Italiano (PSI) e il dissenso oltrecortina: il caso polacco nei rapporti Craxi-Solidarność

Abstract

The election of Bettino Craxi as PSI general secretary marked, from 1976, a very important turning point in the
history of Italian socialism. His dynamic and charismatic leadership in fact contributed to a profound revision
of its ideological seeds, the so-called scientific Marxism, and above all to the recovery of the humanitarian
and libertarian suggestions of pre-Marxist socialism. This led to the clear and definitive condemnation of the
Marxist-Leninist model, which had found its practical realization in the Soviet system and in the countries
beyond the Curtain, and prompted PSI to support the anti-communist dissidence and to establish strong
relations with the Polish opposition and above all with Solidarność. Craxi, both in the role of PSI general
secretary and as Italian prime minister, was able to provide it with a great political-diplomatic support and a
lot of concrete help. Up to now, the history of these relations has not yet been adequately studied and this
paper therefore aims to fill the gap.