Polish Ambassador to U.S. Urges People not to ‘Write off Democracy’
“Don’t Write Off Democracy”
Washington Post, December 14, 2006

In a recent op-ed piece in the Washington Post Polish ambassador to the United States Janusz Reiter argues that people should “never write off a country” because it could be one-step way from turning into a success story. 

The Ambassador demonstrates the transition from communism to democracy in Poland over the period of a decade to illustrate his viewpoint.  In reference to the December 1981 declaration of martial law by communist generals, Ambassador Reiter claims Poland was “widely regarded as a hopeless case.” 

However over the span of the next eight years international assistance and the efforts of the Polish people transformed Poland from a “hopeless” case to a success story.  Poland became the first country in Eastern Europe to have a democratically elected non-communist government. 

Ambassador Reiter admits that “all comparisons are risky and uncertain,” but argues that the history of Poland demonstrates that democracy should not be underestimated, even in times of apparent failure.