West European Communist Parties after the Revolutions of 1989 - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0312122683 ISBN 13: 9780312122683

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan, 1995

Synopsis

This book analyses the impact of the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union on the Communist Parties of Western Europe. Seven case-studies, covering the Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Belgian, British and German parties, provide a tightly-argued comparative perspective. The conclusion assesses the range of responses to the dramatic events of 1989-91 and likely future direction of the west European communist movement. It is argued that, whilst it is no longer possible to talk of a coherent 'family' of communist parties, various individual parties - some of them in revised form - may continue to prosper.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

The collapse of the communist regimes following the dramatic events of 1989-91 astonished the entire world. For many in the west, the 'triumph' of market capitalism was seen as finally ringing the death-knell for the communist movement. West European communist parties, many of which had harboured ambitions of winning significant political influence in the mid-1970s when 'Eurocommunism' was at its height, now found themselves faced with having to respond to a crisis which threatened the very logic of their existence. For some, the only rational response was simply to abandon communism. Others sought to adapt to the new circumstances, whilst a few sought to ignore them altogether. The chapters in this volume analyse the differing reactions of communist parties in Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Britain and Germany to the challenges posed by the disintegration of the communist empire. Whilst it is no longer possible to talk of a coherent communist 'family' in western Europe. It may be too soon to write communism's obituary.

About this edition

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 0312122683
• ISBN 13: 9780312122683
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 258
• Editor: Bull Martin J., Heywood Paul M.