Konstanty Łubieński’s ideological path (1910–1977). Outline of problems

Abstract

The subject of this text is the political activity and ideological choices of Konstanty Łubieński (1910–1977). He started his political activity in the Piłsudski-ite “power movement”. Always socially sensitive, already before 1939 he pondered on ways to improve living conditions for workers and the rural population. During the Second World War, he was active in the underground, rising to the position of commander of the Mielec district of the Home Army. The “Storm” action, in which he took part, and his arrest by the Soviets led him to seek new forms of activity. After escaping from captivity, he was active in the Labour Party, and later in the “Today and Tomorrow” group, where he became famous for his article An open letter to Mr Juliusz Łada, proclaiming the collaboration of Catholics with Communists. Only in 1956, at the time of the “thaw”, did he feel disappointed with Bolesław Piasecki, leaving the “PAX” Association and becoming one of the leaders of the “secession” group. He was a leader of the environment of the “non-partisan democratic left”, which was removed from the weekly “For and Against” by Jan Frankowski. After these events, Łubieński became associated with the Znak movement, working in its parliamentary circle and the Warsaw Club of Catholic Intelligentsia. He was an advocate of departing from neo-positivism, and, as an ideological socialist, was in favour of closer cooperation of the milieu with the authorities. This led to a split in “Sign”, the symbol of which was Łubieński’s parliamentary speech in 1976, in which he endorsed the changes to the Constitution, and Stanisław Stomma abstained from voting on their approval. Łubieński broke up “Sign” and created the Polish Club of Catholic Intelligentsia, a success he achieved at the end of his life, without having had time to politically discount its results.