The Solidarity movement of the early 1980s not only triggered a transformation in Polish society, it forced a fundamental reconsideration of the nature of socialism throughout the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Seen as one of the most important social movements of the twentieth century, Michael Kennedy develops a theoretical conception of Soviet-type societies by analysing Solidarity's significance. He explains the background to the nature of the conflict between Solidarity and the authorities and considers the implications of Solidarity's struggle for the theory of the Soviet-type system's reproduction and transformation. Then, the internal constitution of Solidarity in terms of gender and, in particular, cross-class alliances is examined, which is followed by the implications of his analysis both for understanding perestroika in the Soviet Union and more generally for reformulating a critical sociology of Soviet-type societies.

"In formulating his theory of power relations in Soviet-type society Kennedy ranges over a number of literatures including marxist, post-marxist, structuralist and functionalist theory. The result is an impressive synthesis....Kennedy has made an important contribution to our understanding of Solidarity and the problems associated with the transformation of Soviet-type systems." Michael Bernhard, Slavic Review

"Future students of this most significant period of the twentieth century will find Kennedy's book a valuable, though difficult and challenging, resource." Bronislaw Misztal, Contemporary Sociology