Czy wprowadzenie demokracji i wolnego rynku w Polsce spełniło oczekiwania polskiego społeczeństwa? - Has the introduction of democracy and free market economy in Poland lived up to the expectations of Polish society?

Winston Churchill once said: 'Democracy is the worst system in the world but no one has invented a better one'. Is it true? Is the system so great? Or maybe it has some dark sides.

The communist authorities were unable to solve economic and social problems so the compromise of the Round Table was necessary. And just from that moment on one can speak of the economic and political transformation in Poland. These, at first gradual, and then radical changes have been of paramount importance to Polish society. The so-called planned economy has been replaced by free market economy. The idea of this transformation involves the opening of the Polish economy to the world, creating a capital market and the liberation of prices. These are major features of free market - the market that has changed the lives of the Polish people, filled empty shelves in our shops, but also on account of which a lot of people have lost their jobs. Along with these changes social attitudes have altered; a high stratification began as far as earnings are concerned. Besides, low stable prices caused a fast increasing inflation. In view of these events a change of the system of our country can be seen as a sort of consolation. Democracy has guaranteed freedom for the citizens and in the end led to the crowning of these changes by the ambitious Constitution of April 1997.

Some of us may ask ourselves a question if the society can be satisfied in such a fast-developing country. And one cannot answer it in one way as the point of view of the rich and the poor will always be different.

The rich are likely to say that now Poland is like a real paradise in comparison with the times of socialism. However, the poor would say that the introduction of democracy and free market economy deprived them of decent living standards. Some people, especially the elderly, are likely to admit that they saw better days. They had a job and a steady income. Nowadays, when the situation has changed dramatically, they cannot find themselves in a new reality of the Internet, of the power of money, facing the problem of unemployment. To get a job they are required to show a good command of foreign languages and some extra skills, which is a great problem for them. Besides, jobs are not so secure as they used to be. A lot of people are left to their own devices, and nothing is handed on a plate any more. The gap between the rich and the poor is widening. As far as free market economy is concerned there is a competition which has both advantages and disadvantages. We can choose among a wide range of goods and services but the capital market can be compared with a jungle where only big companies can survive.

Taking all this into account one can say that apart from the inconveniences, democracy still seems to be one of the best systems in the world if not to say the best one possible. Polish society can now enjoy the freedom of speech and the freedom of assembly. There is a number of political parties; the Polish parliament is elected in democratic elections and our constitution is based on the rule of law. Free market economy means a new way of living, making a career, and building up interpersonal relations. We have got a wide range of goods from all over the world and some of us have already forgotten about the grey reality of the eighties with endless queues. Introduced in 1990, the plan of Leszek Balcerowicz - an ex-minister of finance, withdrew the control of prices which brought about many positive changes but, on the other hand increased the inflation.

In conclusion I would like to say that the introduction of democracy and free market economy in Poland has been a breakthrough in the history of our country. High quality goods, competition, an influx of foreign capital, the possibility of running one's own business are something common now. These changes have reintroduced us to Europe. The new system has the impact of a roller coaster ride on our lives. Each one of us is entitled to be free, to do what he or she wants to, and with democracy Polish society is able to enter into the 21st century.

[Arkadiusz Szymczak]