Poles’ Commitment to the Rights of Political Dissenters
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Wayne State University, Detroit
Publication date: 2006-06-30
Polish Sociological Review 2006;154(2):231-242
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ABSTRACT
Empirical research on support for democracy and democratic values in Eastern Europe has
proliferated in the last decade and a half. Based on survey data from a recent, nationally representative
survey of Polish public opinion, I contribute to this growing literature by exploring the dynamics of
Poles’ support for the rights of political dissenters. Using multivariate regression analysis, I model the
relationships between a variety of socio-political assessments and support for political dissenters’ rights.
I find that Poles’ support for the rights of political dissenters is far from uniform and varies as a function
of authoritarianism, approval of the government in power, anomie, education, and (marginally) gender.
I conclude with a discussion of my findings’ implications for democratic consolidation in Poland.