Throughout Swimming in the Dark, the looming shadow of communism plays an important and influential role in the relationship between Ludwik and Janusz. The two men represent opposing viewpoints of communist life, with Janusz hoping to find a place in the Party and build a life in Poland, while Ludwik questions Janusz’s faith in the system, constantly craving more political and personal freedom. The divide between Ludwik and Janusz’s beliefs not only represents the more serious division between the USSR and the West but also the personal pain and grief that the Cold War inflicted upon the people of the time. Both crave better lives, but, because of their values and upbringings, they see different ways to achieve them. Because of the ideological polarization fostered by the Cold War, they cannot find a compromise, and their relationship fractures.

Even early on in their relationship, as they begin to know each other, Ludwik’s and Janusz’s ideological differences begin pulling them apart. During a debate over whether capitalism or communism allows for greater freedom, Janusz questions if the supposed freedom that comes with capitalism in the West is truly worth it. He believes that this freedom is a sham and that people in the West work for no actual personal benefit.