Originally published in 1986, this book explains why the Polish military took power in December 1981. It examines how this was done, and with what consequences. The experience of the State of War in Poland in 1982–83 and the repression of Polish Society and the Solidarity movement was a major event in postwar European history. In the author's opinion, it was more significant than superficially comparable events such as 'normalisation' in Hungary after 1956 or in Czechoslovakia under Husak. The experience of the State of War in 1982–83 sheds a powerful light on the problem of reconciling reform, pluralisation and democratisation processes with the Soviet definition of the leading role of the Communist Party. Crucial questions about the nature of the communist system and its capacity to respond to crisis, the novel political role of the communist Officer Corps and the clash of rival personalities and policy-alternatives in the Developed Socialist State are examined in this book and it remains an indispensable source of information on Cold War political history.