EVOLUTION OF PEASANT FARMING IN POLAND - IDEOLOGICAL CONSTRAINTS TO DEVELOPMENT

This article presents an overview of agricultural policy developments in People's Poland from 1944 to the end of 80s (the collapse of the sy stem of socialist, centralized economy). Polish agricultural developme nt during the post-war period was badly hit by the enforced ideology, dominating over economic issues. Rural regions were exploited as a kin d of ''internal colony'' to support industrial growth in a period of f orced collectivization, especially. The emerging tensions, both social and economic, resulted in the liberalization of the October 1956 '''t haw''; nevertheless the inherent structures of the system remained int act, leading to stagnant development of the 60s. The policy of ''openn ess'' to the West, striving for rapid economic development, remained - in its very nature - the continuation of an extensive development pat hway, based on the stream of foreign credits. The attempts to reform f ailed and the process of desintegration of the national economy contin ued during the 80s. As a dramatic response, political changes occurred and the first non-communistic government launched rapid reforms aimin g at replacing centrally-planned economy system by a market-oriented o ne. New development issues of the actual market reforms of the 90s and their impact upon agriculture is outlined in the final part of the ar ticle.