- “August 1980: The Anatomy of Hope and Betrayal”
On March 1, we are releasing the film “August 1980: The Anatomy of Hope and Betrayal”.
This date was chosen deliberately. For years, the National Day of Remembrance for the Cursed Soldiers has divided Poles—not only due to differing historical interpretations but also because it is frequently used as a tool of current politics. Recent history stirs up emotions and sparks debate—a natural and necessary phenomenon in a vibrant community. However, there is no place for oversimplifications or political theatrics that hinder dialogue. We need a substantive conversation—free from myths and intellectual shortcuts—that is honest, sometimes painful, yet leads to mutual understanding.
We invite you to watch a film about August 1980, produced by the Naprzód Foundation. The film contributes to the discussion on Poland’s recent history, the labour movement, and the country’s transformation, eschewing political oversimplifications in favour of open dialogue. It features scholars, journalists, and politicians—including figures associated with the Western European Left—as well as witnesses and participants of the historic strikes of August 1980
May this film serve as a contribution to precisely that kind of discussion—one concerning matters of importance to us and the world around us.
- Europe in the Shadow of Rearmament
With the support of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation (Poland Office), we carried out the project “The Economics of War. Defence Spending in Poland and Europe.”
The war in Ukraine, escalating geopolitical tensions, and political decisions to increase military spending to unprecedented levels are transforming the face of Europe. Militarisation is ceasing to be merely a security issue; it is becoming a central organising principle for economic policy, state budgets, and the language of public debate.
But do rising outlays on armaments truly enhance societal security? What are the economic and social costs involved? Who stands to gain and who to lose in this new “war order”? The project goes beyond simple arguments for or against rearmament.
The project has produced a rigorous, data-driven study that reveals the actual budgetary and social costs of rising defence spending, analyses the impact of militarisation on social policy, public health, and civilian investment, places Poland within a broader European and global context, and poses a fundamental question: what constitutes true security?
Is security built solely through increased military spending? Is there a viable alternative based on social investment, ecological transition, and international cooperation?
We invite you to join the debate on the direction in which Poland and Europe are heading!
Publication and Event:
- Renewed website
Welcome to the renewed website of the Naprzód Foundation!
We are glad to have you with us at the beginning of this new chapter of our online presence.We hope that the refreshed website will be well received by our visitors and will become a valuable source of information and inspiration to follow our future initiatives.
