ABSTRACT
This chapter is concerned with the broad phenomenon of public non-conformism, citizens' self-defense, human rights lobbying, and nascent movements pressing for greater political liberties or transformations of the political system. Human rights and political movements span a range of organizational formats, and their size, composition, significance, longevity, and achievements vary considerably both within and between East European states. Numerous human rights groups and social self-defense movements were formed in Poland before and during the Solidarity era. A few subsequent human rights intiatives have been undertaken; for example, the Polish League for Human Rights was created in Szczecin in October 1986, with representatives in nine cities. A campaign for respect for human rights seemed to offer the most realistic chance of success, and could ultimately evolve into a more substantive oppositionist force if circumstances become more favorable. Human rights activism in the German Democratic Republic has concentrated largely on freedom to emigrate to the West.
