From Solidarność to the Algorithm
The Crisis of Intermediate Bodies in Poland between Trade Union Legacy and the Challenges of AI
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12797/Politeja.23.2026.102.06Keywords:
Solidarność, trade union crisis, algorithmic governance, post-communist transition, intermediate bodies, artificial intelligence and labor, digital unionismAbstract
From the first industrial revolution to the digital age, every transformation in production has called forth new forms of representation and new ways of safeguarding collective dignity. In Poland, this historical arc found its most powerful expression in Solidarność, a movement that was at once a trade union and a civic force, guiding the passage from authoritarian rule to democratic pluralism. Its later decline, however, exposed the fragility of intermediate bodies confronted with liberalization and rapid systemic upheaval. At this historical juncture, the spread of artificial intelligence and algorithmic management presents a challenge of similar magnitude. These technologies not only reorganize labor but also redefine the very frameworks of negotiation, often bypassing established institutions. What remains constant is the need for intermediate bodies able to anchor collective rights in this shifting landscape. Only through a human-centered approach can technology be turned into a means of enhancing human capacities, ensuring dignity at work, and sustaining solidarity as a cornerstone of democratic life.
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