Over the past thirty years, the satellite countries of the USSR have been periodically shocked by strikes, demonstrations, even workers' uprisings. These phenomena all the more attract attention because they occur within the so-called socialist systems, which present themselves as true representatives of the working class. The long history of explosions of workers' discontent dates back to 1953 in the GDR and Czechoslovakia, to reach its climax in Poland in 1980-81. What lies behind these new "Polish events" that will undoubtedly have a strong impact on the future evolution of Europe?