International Discussion Series: KOD and the Erosion of Democracy in Poland: A Social Movement Across Borders

KOD, the Committee for the Defense of Democracy, is a Polish civic organization founded in November 2015 as a reaction to the Polish constitutional crisis. The legislative changes pushed through Polish parliament (Sejm), where the conservative Law and Justice Party (PIS) holds majority, were widely criticized in Poland and across the European Union as threatening the rule of law and the human rights of Polish citizens. KOD strives to rise above political and ideological divisions in Poland and to form a broad-spectrum coalition of all forces and organizations supporting democratic ideas but certainly holds more appeal to political formations from left to center than to right-wing parties. KOD’s leadership stresses that it does not oppose the ruling party or its government, or question their right to govern; rather, it fights against certain policies and legislative actions that can be construed as an attempt to eviscerate democracy and freedoms for which Polish people fought long and hard during the communist era. In December 2015, KOD organized demonstrations in more than 20 Polish cities, drawing tens of thousands of people to the streets. More followed in the first months of 2016, and the protests have now spread to other European countries, the US, and various locations across the globe with over 100,000 people participating.

In the talk, three members of KOD in San Francisco, Ewa Stamper, Anna Samborska and Dobiesław Pałeczka will address the political climate in Poland and the organizational efforts of KOD around the world.