In the 1960s Mr Rakowski publicly opposed the death penalty, then a heretical and dangerous stance.

ECONOMIST: Mieczyslaw Rakowski

Mr Rakowski's career fizzled out, fittingly, in an abortive bid for the Polish senate in 2005.

ECONOMIST: Mieczyslaw Rakowski

Mr Rakowski was usually seen as an arch-trimmer, a prime example of the collaboration forced on Poland by its history.

ECONOMIST: Mieczyslaw Rakowski

Mr Rakowski stood firm and refused to sack any Jews.

ECONOMIST: Mieczyslaw Rakowski

Forrester analysts Vanessa Alvarez, Dave Bartoletti, Rachel Dines, Jean-Pierre Garbani, Dave Johnson, Eve Maler, Stephen Mann, Eveline Oehrlich, John Rakowski, James Staten, and Chris Voce all contributed to this analysis.

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