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This article intentionally focuses only on the history of communism as a self-contained, self-aware political movement. Communism is a Socioeconomic structure that promotes the establishment of an egalitarian, classless, stateless Society based See also Marxian economics, Marxism Marxist philosophy or Marxist theory are terms which cover work in Philosophy Class struggle is the active expression of Class conflict looked at from any kind of socialist perspective International Socialism redirects here For the journal of the same name see International Socialism (journal Proletarian internationalism is a A Political party described as a communist party includes those that advocate the application of the social principles of Communism through a communist form of Marxism is the political philosophy and practice derived from the work of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Leninism refers to various related political and economic theories elaborated by Bolshevik revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin. Trotskyism is the theory of Marxism as advocated by Leon Trotsky. Maoism, variably and officially known as Mao Zedong Thought ( is a variant of Marxism derived from the teachings of the late Chinese leader The Juche Idea (주체사상 Juche Sasang) is the official state Ideology of North Korea and the Political system based on it Left communism is the range of communist viewpoints held by the Communist Left, which opposes the political ideas of the Bolsheviks Council communism is a Far-left movement originating in Germany and the Netherlands in the 1920s Religious communism is a form of Communism centered on religious principles Eurocommunism was a new trend in the 1970s and 1980s within various Western European communist parties to develop a theory and practice of social transformation that National Communism, is an Islamic form of Communism which had a strong Nationalist element The Communist League was the first Marxist international organisation The Second International (1889-1916 was an organization of socialist and labour parties formed in Paris on July 14, 1889. The Comintern ( Com munist Intern ational also known as the Third International) was an international Communist organisation founded in Moscow The Fourth International ( FI) is a communist international organisation working in opposition to both Capitalism and Stalinism. Friedrich Engels (28 November 1820 – 5 August 1895 was a German social scientist and philosopher, who Rosa Luxemburg (Róża Luksemburg 5 March 1870 or 1871 15 January 1919 was a Polish-born Jewish German Marxist theorist, socialist Joseph Stalin ( ნამდვილი გვარი ჯუღაშვილი|Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili; March 5 1953 was General Secretary of the Communist Party Leon Trotsky ( Russian:, Lev Davidovich Trotsky, also transliterated Leo, Lyev, Trotskii, Trotski, Trotskij Mao Zedong ( 26 December 1893 – 9 September 1976) was a Chinese Military and political leader who led Anarchism is a Political philosophy encompassing theories and attitudes which support the elimination of all compulsory Government, i Anti-capitalism describes a wide variety of movements ideas and attitudes which oppose Capitalism. Anti-communism refers to opposition to Communism. Historically the word "communism" has been used to refer to several types of communal social organization and Communist state is a term used by many Political scientists to describe a Form of government in which the State operates under a one-party system Communist symbolism consists of a series of Symbols that represent (either literally or figuratively a variety of themes associated with communism Criticisms of Communism can be divided in two broad categories Those concerning themselves with the practical aspects of 20th century Communist state and those concerning Democratic centralism is the name given to the principles of internal organization used by Leninist political parties and the term is sometimes used as a synonym for any Leninist The " dictatorship of the proletariat " or workers' state is a term employed by Marxists that refers to what they see as a temporary state between the Luxemburgism (also written Luxembourgism) is a specific revolutionary theory within Communism, based on the writings of Rosa Luxemburg. The New Class is a term to describe the privileged Ruling class of Bureaucrats and Communist party functionaries which typically arises in a Stalinist The New Left were the Left-wing movements in different countries in the 1960s and 1970s that unlike the earlier leftist focus on union activism instead adopted a Post-Communism is a name sometimes given to the period of political and economic Transition in former Communist states located in parts of Europe and Primitive communism is A term usually associated with Karl Marx, but most fully elaborated by Friedrich Engels (in The Origin of the Family 1884 and referring Socialism refers to a broad set of economic theories of social organization advocating state or collective ownership and administration of the Means of production and distribution Stalinism is the political regime named after Joseph Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union from 1929–1953 Socialist economics is a broad and sometimes controversial term Titoism is an adaptation of communist ideology named after Josip Broz Tito, leader of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, primarily used to describe The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991

A map of countries who declared themselves to be socialist states under the Marxist-Leninist or Maoist definition (in other words, "Communist states") at some point in their history. The map uses present-day borders. Note that not all of these countries were Marxist-Leninist or Maoist at the same time.

The political movement of communism has been a worldwide social movement for centuries. Social movements are a type of group action. They are large informal groupings of Individuals and/or Organizations focused on specific

Karl Marx saw communism as the original, hunter-gatherer state of humankind, from which it arose. A hunter-gatherer society is one whose primary subsistence method involves the direct procurement of edible plants and animals from the wild Foraging and Hunting Human beings, humans or man (Origin 1590–1600 L homō man OL hemō the earthly one (see Humus For Marx; only after humanity was capable of producing surplus, did private property develop. Property is any physical or virtual entity that is owned by an individual Communism is an idea of a society based on common ownership of property, and can be traced back to ancient times. Collectivism is a term used to describe any moral political or social outlook that stresses human Interdependence and the importance of a Collective, rather than "Ancient" redirects here For other uses see Ancient_(disambiguation. Its modern form as a mass social movement grew out of the working class labor movement during the Industrial Revolution. Social movements are a type of group action. They are large informal groupings of Individuals and/or Organizations focused on specific Working class is a term used in academic Sociology and in ordinary conversation to describe depending on context and speaker those employed in specific fields or types The labour movement or labor movement is a broad term for the development of a collective organization of working people, to campaign in their own interest for better The Industrial Revolution was a period in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when major changes in agriculture manufacturing and transportation had a profound effect on the

This rise of the working class was heralded by Karl Marx, who developed Marxism, and Friedrich Engels, who assisted Marx and who developed the modern account of communism as the outcome of a revolutionary class struggle between the proletariat and bourgeoisie. Marxism is the political philosophy and practice derived from the work of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Friedrich Engels (28 November 1820 – 5 August 1895 was a German social scientist and philosopher, who Class struggle is the active expression of Class conflict looked at from any kind of socialist perspective The proletariat (from Latin la ''proles'' "offspring" is a term used to identify a lower Social class; a member of such a class is proletarian During the October Revolution in 1917, the communist Bolshevik Party was able to seize state power in Russia. The October Revolution (Октябрьская революция Oktyabrskaya revolyutsiya) also known as the Soviet Revolution Year 1917 ( MCMXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Following that revolution, Marxism-Leninism emerged as the mainstream tendency of communism in world politics. Marxism-Leninism is a Communist ideological stream that emerged as the mainstream tendency amongst the Communist parties in the 1920s as it was adopted After the Secret Speech of 1956 and the emergence of the New Left in the 1960s, a new form of Marxism-Leninism, pioneered by Mao Zedong and often known as Maoism outside China, spread worldwide; this ideology stresses the role of the peasant class and careful guerrilla warfare as important agents of the communist revolution. On the Personality Cult and its Consequences (О культе личности и его последствиях commonly known as the Secret Speech or the Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The New Left were the Left-wing movements in different countries in the 1960s and 1970s that unlike the earlier leftist focus on union activism instead adopted a The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 Mao Zedong ( 26 December 1893 – 9 September 1976) was a Chinese Military and political leader who led Maoism, variably and officially known as Mao Zedong Thought ( is a variant of Marxism derived from the teachings of the late Chinese leader China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Guerrilla warfare is the unconventional warfare and combat with which a small group of combatants use mobile tactics (ambushes raids etc A communist revolution is a Proletarian revolution inspired by the ideas of Marxism that aims to replace Capitalism with Communism, typically

Early Communism

Further information: Primitive communism and Religious communism

Karl Marx saw primitive communism as the original, hunter-gatherer state of humankind from which it arose. Primitive communism is A term usually associated with Karl Marx, but most fully elaborated by Friedrich Engels (in The Origin of the Family 1884 and referring Religious communism is a form of Communism centered on religious principles Primitive communism is A term usually associated with Karl Marx, but most fully elaborated by Friedrich Engels (in The Origin of the Family 1884 and referring A hunter-gatherer society is one whose primary subsistence method involves the direct procurement of edible plants and animals from the wild Foraging and Hunting For Marx, only after humanity was capable of producing surplus, did private property develop.

The idea of a classless, stateless society based on communal ownership of property and wealth stretches far back in Western thought long before The Communist Manifesto. Some have traced communist ideas back to ancient times, such as in Pythagoreanism and Plato's The Republic; or (perhaps with more justification) to the early Christian Church, as described in the Acts of the Apostles (see Christian communism). Pythagoreanism is a term used for the Esoteric and metaphysical beliefs held by Pythagoras and his followers the Pythagoreans who were much influenced Biography Early life Birth and family Plato was born in Athens Greece The Republic ( Greek: / Politeía, meaning "political system" Latin: Res Publica, meaning "public business" or The Acts of the Apostles is a book of the Bible, which now stands fifth in the New Testament. Christian Communism is a form of Religious communism centered around Christianity. Other attempts to establish communistic societies were made by the Essenes and by the Judean desert sect. The Essenes were strictly speaking a Jewish religious group that flourished from the 2nd century BC to the 1st century AD The medieval Roman Catholic church tried to end war by promoting communes (see Medieval commune#Medieval christianity). Communes in Europe in the Middle Ages were sworn allegiances of mutual defense (both physical defense and of traditional freedoms among community members of a town or city

In the 16th century, the English writer St. Thomas More portrayed a society based on common ownership of property in his treatise Utopia, whose leaders administered it through the application of reason. Sir Thomas More (7 February 1478 – 6 July 1535 from 1935 Saint Thomas More, was an English Lawyer, author and statesman who in his lifetime gained De Optimo Republicae Statu deque Nova Insula Utopia (translated On the Best State of a Republic and on the New Island of Utopia) or more simply

Several groupings in the English Civil War, but especially the Diggers who espoused clear communistic but agrarian ideals. The Diggers were an English group begun by Gerrard Winstanley as True Levellers in 1649, who became known as "Diggers" (Cromwell and the Grandees' attitude to these groups was at best ambivalent and often hostile – see Bernstein's classic book Cromwell and Communism). Eduard Bernstein ( January 6 1850 December 18 1932) was a German social democratic theoretician and Criticism of the idea of private property continued into the Enlightenment era of the 18th century, through such thinkers as the deeply religious Jean Jacques Rousseau. The Age of Enlightenment or The Enlightenment is a term used to describe a phase in Western philosophy and cultural life centered upon the eighteenth century Raised a Calvinist, Rousseau was influenced by the jansenist movement within the Roman Catholic church. Jansenism was a branch of Catholic Gallican thought which arose in the frame of the Counter-Reformation and the aftermath of the Council of Trent The jansenist movement originated from the most orthodox Roman Catholic bishops, who tried to reform the Roman Catholic church in the 17th century to stop secularization and Protestantism. One of the main jansenist aims was democratizing to stop the aristocratic corruption at the top of the church hierarchy. ^[1] "Utopian socialist" writers such as Robert Owen are also sometimes regarded as communists. Utopian socialism is a term used to define the first currents of modern socialist thought Robert Owen (14 May 1771 – 17 Nov 1858 born in Newtown, Montgomeryshire, Wales was a social reformer and one of the founders of Socialism

Maximilien Robespierre and his reign of terror, aimed at exterminating the nobility and conservatives, was greatly admired among communists. Maximilien François Marie Isidore de Robespierre (maksimiljɛ̃ fʁɑ̃swa maʁi izidɔʁ də ʁɔbɛspjɛʁ ( 6 May 1758 – 28 July 1794) Robespierre was in his turn a great admirer of Rousseau. ¹ The Shakers of the 18th century practiced communalism as a sort of religious communism. The United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, known as the Shakers, was a Protestant religious denomination that originated in Manchester See also Communalism (South Asia. In many parts of the world communalism is a modern term that describes a broad range of Social movements Religious communism is a form of Communism centered on religious principles

Some believe that early communist-like utopias also existed outside of Europe, in Native American society, and other pre-Colonialism societies in the Western Hemisphere. For indigenous peoples in the United States other than Hawaii and Alaska see also Native Americans in the United States. See Colony and Colonization for examples of colonialism which do not refer to Western colonialism The Western Hemisphere, also Western hemisphere or western hemisphere, is a geographical term for the half of the Earth that lies West Almost every member of a tribe had his or her own contribution to society, and land and natural resources would often be shared peacefully among the tribe. Some such tribes in North America and South America still existed well into the twentieth century. South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a

Karl Marx saw communism as the original state of mankind from which it arose, through classical society, and then feudalism, to its current state of capitalism. He proposed that the next step in social evolution would be a return to communism.

In its contemporary form, the ideology of communism grew out of the workers' movement of 19th century Europe. As the Industrial Revolution advanced, socialist critics blamed capitalism for creating a class of poor, urban factory workers who toiled under harsh conditions, and for widening the gulf between rich and poor. The Industrial Revolution was a period in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when major changes in agriculture manufacturing and transportation had a profound effect on the

Marx, Engels, and The Communist Manifesto

Although Marx addressed many issues, he is most famous for his analysis of history in terms of class struggle, summed up in the famous line from the introduction to the Communist Manifesto: "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggle". Manifesto of the Communist Party ( often referred to as The Communist Manifesto, was first published on February 21, 1848, and is Class struggle is the active expression of Class conflict looked at from any kind of socialist perspective

The Communist Manifesto, also known as The Manifesto of the Communist Party, published on February 21, 1848 is one of the world's most historically influential political tracts. Events 362 - Athanasius returns to Alexandria. 1245 - Thomas, the first known Bishop of Finland Year 1848 ( MDCCCXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap Politics Politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions Commissioned by the Communist League and written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, it laid out the League's purposes and program. The Communist League was the first Marxist international organisation Friedrich Engels (28 November 1820 – 5 August 1895 was a German social scientist and philosopher, who The Manifesto suggested a course of action for a proletarian revolution to overthrow capitalism and, eventually, to bring about a classless society. The proletariat (from Latin la ''proles'' "offspring" is a term used to identify a lower Social class; a member of such a class is proletarian Capitalism is the Economic system in which the Means of production are owned by private Persons and operated for Profit and where This article is translated from and may fit related articles there better.

The introduction begins with a call to arms:

A spectre is haunting Europe -- the spectre of communism. All the powers of old Europe have entered into a holy alliance to exorcise this spectre: Pope and Tsar, Metternich and Guizot, French Radicals and German police-spies. History See also History of the Papacy Catholics recognize the Pope as a successor to Saint Peter, who Jesus named as the "shepherd" and Tsar csar and tzar redirect here For other uses see Tsar (disambiguation. François Pierre Guillaume Guizot (4 October 1787 -12 September 1874 was a French Historian, Orator, and Statesman. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe.

Where is the party in opposition that has not been decried as communistic by its opponents in power? Where is the opposition that has not hurled back the branding reproach of communism, against the more advanced opposition parties, as well as against its reactionary adversaries?

The program described in the Manifesto is termed socialism or communism. Reactionary (also reactionist) is a derogatory term usually used by the Left wing in regards to movements which oppose radical change in society and seeks a return Socialism refers to a broad set of economic theories of social organization advocating state or collective ownership and administration of the Means of production and distribution The policies included the abolition of land ownership and the right to inheritance, the progressive income tax, and the nationalization of means of production and transport. Landed property or landed estates is a Real estate term that usually refers to a property that generates income for the owner without the owner having to "Heir" and "Heiress" redirect here For the men and women fragrances endorsed by Paris Hilton see Heiress (fragrance. Means Of Production is a compilation of Aim 's early 12" and EP releases recorded between 1995 and 1998 Transport or transportation is the movement of people and goods from one place to another These policies, which would be implemented by a revolutionary government (the dictatorship of the proletariat), would (the authors believed) be a precursor to the stateless and classless society. A state is a political association with effective Sovereignty over a geographic Area and representing a Population. Social class refers to the hierarchical distinctions (or stratification) between individuals or groups in Societies or Cultures. "Communism" is also used to refer to the beliefs and practices of the Communist Party, including that of the Soviet Union which differed substantially from Marx and Engels' conception. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991

It is this concept of the transition from socialism to communism which many critics of the Manifesto, particularly during and after the Soviet era, have alighted upon. Anarchists, liberals, and conservatives all asked how an organization such as the revolutionary state could ever (as Marx put it elsewhere) "wither away". Both traditional understandings of the attraction of political power and more recent theories of organizational behavior suggest instead that a group given political power will tend to preserve its privilege rather than to permit it to wither away -- even if that privilege is given in the name of revolution and of the establishment of equality.

When, in the course of development, class distinctions have disappeared, and all production has been concentrated in the hands of a vast association of the whole nation, the public power will lose its political character. A nation is a Human Cultural and Social Community. In as much as most members never meet each other yet feel a common bond it may be considered Political power, properly so called, is merely the organized power of one class for oppressing another. If the proletariat during its contest with the bourgeoisie is compelled, by the force of circumstances, to organize itself as a class; if, by means of a revolution, it makes itself the ruling class, and, as such, sweeps away by force the old conditions of production, then it will, along with these conditions, have swept away the conditions for the existence of class antagonisms and of classes generally, and will thereby have abolished its own supremacy as a class.

The famous last lines of The Manifesto

The Communists disdain to conceal their views and aims. They openly declare that their ends can be attained only by the forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions. Let the ruling classes tremble at a communist revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win.

Working men of all countries, unite!

The October Revolution

Main article: October Revolution

Vladimir Lenin

The October Revolution of 1917 took place in Russia. The October Revolution (Октябрьская революция Oktyabrskaya revolyutsiya) also known as the Soviet Revolution Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Led by Vladimir Ilych Ulyanov (also known as Lenin), leader of the Bolshevik Party, it was the first large scale attempt to put Marxist ideas about a workers' state into practice. From the outset, the new government faced counterrevolutionary resistance from a myriad of forces -- anarchists, scattered czarist resistance forces known as the White Guard, and Western imperialist powers all tried to snatch power away from the Bolsheviks. Tsar csar and tzar redirect here For other uses see Tsar (disambiguation. The White movement (Beloie Dvijenie Белое движение whose military arm is known as the White Army (Belaia Armia Белая Армия or White Guard The term Western world, the West or the Occident ( Latin: occidens -sunset -west as distinct from the Orient) can have multiple meanings Lenin and his party began to centralize control of Russia, but Lenin always assured the people that it was necessary for the transition from a capitalist economy to communism. Lenin anticipated that after the October Revolution, other countries in Europe would have similar revolutions, but the revolutions in Germany, Hungary and Finland were crushed. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Hungary (Magyarország 'mɔɟɔrorsaːg) officially in English the Republic of Hungary ( Magyar Köztársaság, literally Magyar (Hungarian Republic Finland, officially the Republic of Finland ( is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of northern Europe. The governance of Lenin, during the last years of his life, occurred in the midst of civil war. The politics of the communists during this period has become known as War Communism. War communism (or military communism) (Военный коммунизм 1918 - 1921 is the term created by western historians referring to the economic and political system Before his death in 1924, Lenin wrote a last testament, with advice for his successor. Lenin wanted a co-operative leadership, but Stalin, gradually assumed control and centralised political power around his own persona. Joseph Stalin ( ნამდვილი გვარი ჯუღაშვილი|Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili; March 5 1953 was General Secretary of the Communist Party

Comintern

Main article: Comintern

In March 1919 the Communist International (abbreviated 'Comintern', commonly known as the 'Third International') was founded. The Comintern ( Com munist Intern ational also known as the Third International) was an international Communist organisation founded in Moscow The Comintern ( Com munist Intern ational also known as the Third International) was an international Communist organisation founded in Moscow The leading force of the new international was the Russian Bolsheviks. Initially the following of the international was somewhat heterogeneous. Largely it consisted of leftist splinter-groups of the main European Social Democratic parties. Comintern set out to organize itself as a world party of socialist revolution. The national sections were instructed to reconstruct themselves along the Leninist principles. To maintain their membership, the section were imposed 21 conditions. Amongst these, the respective national section had to take the name 'Communist Party'.

The headquarters of Comintern were based in Moscow. Moscow (Москва́ romanised: Moskvá, IPA: see also other names) is the Capital and the largest city of The international set up an active work to build new sections around the world. Initially the international was primarily based in Europe, but gradually non-European sections were developed. After the Russian party, the main section was the Communist Party of Germany. The Communist Party of Germany ( German Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands &ndash KPD) was a major political party in Germany between 1918

During the Comintern period, during which the modern communist movement took shape, there were intense conflicts over the leadership and the direction of the movement. After Lenin's death, Stalin began to purge his opponents. Roughly speaking, there were two major dissident groupings. The Left Opposition, led by Leon Trotsky and the Right Opposition, led by Bukharin. Left communism and the Left Opposition are distinct Left communism should not be confused with the Trotskyist tendency described below Leon Trotsky ( Russian:, Lev Davidovich Trotsky, also transliterated Leo, Lyev, Trotskii, Trotski, Trotskij The Right Opposition was the name given to the tendency made up of Nikolai Bukharin, Alexei Rykov and their supporters within the Soviet Union in the late Nikolai Ivanovich Bukharin (Никола́й Ива́нович Буха́рин ( &ndash March 15, 1938) was a Bolshevik The divisions inside the Soviet party was reciprocsated by splits in various Comintern sections. Often splits were provoked by expulsions of real or perceived opponents of Stalin's leadership.

During the latter part of the 1920s the Comintern adopted a line which singled out the Social Democrats as 'Social Fascists'. The task of the Comintern sections was to combat the influence of the Social Democrats amongst the working class. Cooperation with the Social Democracy was categorically ruled out.

However, after the rise of Fascism in Europe, this policy was reversed. Fascism is a totalitarian nationalist and corporatist ideology The 7th congress of the Comintern adopted the Popular Front line (which in some countries already had been in use). A popular front is a broad Coalition of different political groupings often made up of leftists and centrists who are united by opposition to another group The communists were urged to build democratic alliances, including with Social Democrats and bourgeois parties, against Fascism. During the Second World War, communist parties took part in restistance activities against the Axis. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including

The changed political scenario of the war clearly changed the working conditions of the communist parties. As a goodwill gesture towards his Western allies, Stalin dissolved the Comintern 1943.

Communism in Europe during the Comintern period

The first group of Communists elected to the Swedish Parliament, 1922.

The bulk of attendees at the first Comintern congress were from Europe. Largely, the new international had its roots in the leftwing opposition within the established European Social Democracy. In several cases, splits with the labour movement preceded the October Revolution. In the Netherlands the Social Democratic Party had been formed in 1909, as the leftist sectors broke away from the main SDAP. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands The Communist Party of the Netherlands ( Dutch: Communistische Partij Nederland, CPN was a Dutch communist Political party. In Germany, the revolutionaries formed the Spartacist League in 1914, headed by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. The Spartacist League ( Spartakusbund in German) was a left-wing Marxist revolutionary movement organized in Germany ( August 13, 1871 - January 15, 1919) was a German Socialist and a co-founder of the Spartacist League and the Communist Rosa Luxemburg (Róża Luksemburg 5 March 1870 or 1871 15 January 1919 was a Polish-born Jewish German Marxist theorist, socialist In Sweden the split had occurred in the spring of 1917, with the formation of the Social Democratic Left Party, headed by Zeth Höglund of the Zimmerwald Left. "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. The Left Party ( Vänsterpartiet) is a Socialist and Feminist political party in Sweden, from 1967 to 1990 known as the Left Carl Zeth "Zäta" Konstantin Höglund ( April 29, 1884 – August 13, 1956) was a leading Swedish Socialist politician The Zimmerwald Left was a Revolutionary minority fraction at the Zimmerwald Peace Conference of 1915 headed by Lenin.

In other cases, the Communist Parties were born as groups left the Social Democracy after the October Revolution. In 1918 Finnish revolutionaries, in exile in Moscow following the defeat of the Reds in the Finnish Civil War, founded the Communist Party of Finland. The Finnish Civil War was a part of the national and social turmoil caused by World War I (1914&ndash1918 in Europe The Communist Party of Finland (Suomen kommunistinen puolue Finlands kommunistiska parti abbreviated SKP was a Communist Political party in Finland. On November 3 the same year, the Communist Party of Austria was founded. Events 644 - Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second Muslim Caliph, is killed by a Persian slave in Medina. The Communist Party of Austria ( de: Kommunistische Partei Österreichs, or KPÖ) is a Communist party based in Austria. Austrian communists attempted to organize a Soviet republic, but the revolution did not spread outside the main industrial centres. Few weeks later the Communist Party of Hungary was founded. Hungarian Communist Party (in Hungarian Magyar Kommunista Párt or Kommunisták Magyarországi Pártja) was founded on November 24, 1918, and Under the leadership of Béla Kun, the Hungarian communists led a revolt and founded a Soviet republic. Béla Kun ( February 20 1886 – August 29 1938) born Béla Kohn, was a Hungarian Communist Politician The republic was crushed by the intervention of the Romanian military.

In December 1918, the Social Democracy of the Kingdom of Poland and Lithuania and the leftwing of the Polish Socialist Party merged to form the Communist Workers Party of Poland. The Social Democracy of the Kingdom of Poland and Lithuania ( Socjaldemokracja Królestwa Polskiego i Litwy or SDKPiL) was a Marxist Political The Polish Socialist Party ( Polska Partia Socjalistyczna, PPS was one of the most important Polish Left-wing Political parties from its inception This article is about the 1918-1938 Communist Party of Poland ^[2] Another party formed in 1918 was the Communist Party of Lithuania. The Communist Party of Lithuania (Lietuvos komunistų partija was a Communist party in Lithuania, established in early October 1918 ^[3]

All these groups joined Comintern at its foundation in 1919 and would become the Communist Parties of their respective countries. In a notable case, the main labour party of a European country joined Comintern. The Norwegian Labour Party (DNA) had been founded in 1887. The Norwegian Labour Party ( Norwegian: Det norske arbeiderparti ( DNA) or Arbeiderpartiet ( AP) is a Social democratic The party, under the leadership of Martin Tranmæl, was one of the founding parties of Comintern. Martin Olsen Tranmæl ( 27 June 1879 &ndash 1 July 1967) was a radical Norwegian Socialist leader By 1920 it had excepted most of the 21 theses of Comintern. The adaptation to Comintern caused division, as the moderate elements formed the Social Democratic Labour Party of Norway in 1921. The Social Democratic Labour Party of Norway (in Norwegian Norges Socialdemokratiske Arbeiderparti) was a Norwegian political party in the 1920s But in the end Tranmæl and Comintern would part ways. In 1923 the party was expelled from the international, and the Communist Party of Norway was formed by the Comintern loyalists. The Communist Party of Norway ( Norges Kommunistiske Parti) is a Political party in Norway without parliamentary representation It should however be noted that DNA remained committed to revolutionary communism in principle a few years after its expulsion, and strived to maintain cordial relations with the international.

In January 1919, the Serbian Social Democratic Party made an appeal for unity amongst the Yugoslav socialists. At a unification congress in Belgrade July 20-July 23, 1919 the Serbian and Bosnian Social Democratic Parties and the leftist minority of the Croatian party merged to form the Socialist Workers Party of Yugoslavia (communists). Belgrade (Београд Beograd is the Capital and largest city of Serbia. Events 1304 - Wars of Scottish Independence: Fall of Stirling Castle - King Edward I of England takes the last rebel stronghold Events 1632 - Three hundred colonists bound for New France depart from Dieppe France. Year 1919 ( MCMXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common League of Communists of Yugoslavia ( Savez komunista Jugoslavije) before 1952 the Communist Party of Yugoslavia ( Komunistička partija Jugoslavije) was ^[4]

In 1920, the Socialist Workers Party of Greece (SEKE) decided to join Comintern. The Communist Party of Greece (Κομμουνιστικό Κόμμα Ελλάδας Kommounistikó Kómma Elládas) better known by its acronym ΚΚΕ (usually The French Section of the Workers International (SFIO) was divided, as the revolutionary elements created the French Section of the Communist International. The French Communist Party ( French: Parti communiste français or PCF) is a political party in France which advocates the principles of The communist were able to wrest a major party of the SFIO membership, as well as the party publication L'Humanité. L'Humanité ("Humanity" formerly the daily newspaper of the French Communist Party (PCF was founded in 1904 by Jean Jaurès, a leader of the The Communist Party of Great Britain, also formed in 1920, did however not surge through any division in the Labour Party but through the merger of smaller leftwing groups. The Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB was the largest Communist party in the United Kingdom, though it never became a mass party like the Communist parties of The Labour Party is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Founded at the start of the 20th century it has been since the 1920s the principal party of the

On May 16, the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia was founded by the Czechoslovak Social-Democratic Party (Left). Events 1204 - Baldwin IX Count of Flanders is crowned as the first Emperor of the Latin Empire. The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, in Czech and in Slovak Komunistická strana Československa (KSČ was a political party in Czechoslovakia that existed between ^[5] In September the same year, the Communist Party of Belgium was founded, through the merger of the Young Socialist Guards and the Belgian Labour Party. Communist Party of Belgium (in Dutch: Kommunistische Partij van België, in French: Parti Communiste de Belgique) was a Political party The Belgian Labour Party, called Belgische Werkliedenpartij (BWP in Dutch (English translation Belgian Workers' Party and Parti Ouvrier Belge (POB in ^[6]

In January 1921, Amadeo Bordiga and Antonio Gramsci led the comunsti puri section of the Italian Socialist Party to form the Italian Communist Party. Amadeo Bordiga (also misspelt "Amedeo" 13 June 1889 &ndash 23 July 1970) was an Italian Marxist, a contributor Antonio Gramsci ('ɡramʃi ( January 23, 1891 &ndash April 27, 1937) was an Italian Philosopher, Writer, The Italian Socialist Party ( Partito Socialista Italiano, PSI was a democratic socialist / social democratic political party founded in Genoa The Italian Communist Party (Italian Partito Comunista Italiano, or PCI emerged as the Communist Party of Italy ( Partito Comunista d'Italia) On March 6, 1921, the Portuguese Communist Party was founded. Events 1079 - Omar Khayyám completes the Iranian calendar. 1454 - Thirteen Years' War: Delegates of Year 1921 ( MCMXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1921 calendar of the Gregorian calendar The Portuguese Communist Party ( Portuguese: Partido Comunista Português, pron The PCP had a somewhat different background than other European communist parties, having developed out of the Anarcho-Syndicalist movement rather than the Social Democracy. Anarcho-syndicalism is a branch of Anarchism which focuses on the labour movement. On November 14, 1921 the Communist Party of Spain was founded, through the fusion of the Spanish Communist Party (which developed out of the Socialist Youth) and the Spanish Communist Workers Party (formed by the pro-Comintern faction of PSOE). Events 1533 - Conquistadors from Spain under the leadership of Francisco Pizarro arrive in Cajamarca, Inca Year 1921 ( MCMXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1921 calendar of the Gregorian calendar The Communist Party of Spain ( Partido Comunista de España or PCE) is the third largest national Political party of Spain. Spanish Communist Party (in Spanish: Partido Comunista Español) was the first communist party in Spain, formed out of the Federación de Juventudes Socialistas Partido Comunista Obrero Español ( Spanish Communist Workers' Party) was the name of a communist party founded on April 13 1921 by the terceristas The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, commonly abbreviated by its Spanish initials PSOE ( P artido S ocialista O brero E spañol is

However, by the end of the 1920s the Comintern was faced with various problems. The revolutionary upsurge on the European continent was over. Communist parties were established in most countries, but in most cases the communists did not play the leading role in the labour movement. Divisions shattered the Comintern, as groups considered as disloyal to the Comintern leadership were expelled. In 1929, Bukharin was purged and subsequently purges were carried out in the Comintern sections. On December 28 the oppositional tendencies within the Communist Party of Germany had constituted a separate party, the Communist Party Opposition. Events 1065 - Westminster Abbey is Consecrated. 1308 - The reign of Emperor Hanazono, Emperor of The Communist Party Opposition (in German Kommunistische Partei-Opposition or KPD-Opposition - KPD-O KPDO or KPO was a communist organisation functioning In 1929 the major part of the Communist Party of Sweden, including most of the party leadership and all parliamentarians, were expelled. The expellees formed a parallel communist party, that developed into the Socialist Party. Socialist Party (Socialistiska partiet initially known as the Communist Party of Sweden ( Sveriges kommunistiska parti) was a Political party in The following year, the Catalan-Balear Communist Federation broke away from the Communist Party of Spain. Catalan-Balear Communist Federation (in Catalan: Federació Comunista Catalano-Balear) was a communist group in Spain. In France, the purged elements took part in the formation of the Party of Proletarian Unity. The Party of Proletarian Unity ( French: Parti de l'Unité Prolétarienne, PUP) was a French socialist Political party.

Communist Party of Iceland was formed in 1930, but communists had been politically active there since the early 1920s. The Communist Party of Iceland (Kommúnistaflokkur Íslands was a political party in Iceland from 1930 to 1938

The expansion of Fascism poses a grave challenge to the communist movement. In 1926 the Italian Communist Party had been banned by Mussolini. After Hitler's takeover of power in Germany, the Communist Party of Germany was banned. Hi and welcome to Wikipedia! Please understand that this article is frequently vandalized and vandalism is reverted immediately When the international convened its 7th congress in 1935, it decided to revert its former policy of rejection of cooperation with Social Democrats. By the initiative of the communist parties Popular Fronts were created in various countries. The Popular Front won elections in France and Spain. In France the communists did not, however, many any ministers of their own.

As the Spanish Civil War broke out, the communist parties mobilized support for the Spanish Republic. The Spanish Civil War was a major conflict in Spain that started after an attempted Coup d'état committed by parts of the army against the government of A 40 000 strong military contingent, the International Brigades, was formed with the active support from Comintern. The International Brigades were Republican Military units in the Spanish Civil War, formed of many non-state sponsored volunteers of different countries

During the Second World War, communists mobilized resistance activities in territories occupied by the Axis. Communist-led guerrilla units, partisans, were active in Italy, France, Greece, Yugoslavia and Albania. In other places, communists organized sabotage activities.

Communism in Latin America during the Comintern period

The first Latin American communist party was the Mexican Communist Party. The Mexican Communist Party ( Spanish: Partido Comunista Mexicano, PCM was a Communist party in Mexico. It had been founded as the Socialist Workers Party in 1911, but changed name to the communist party in 1919. The Indian revolutionary M.N. Roy was instrumental in linking the Mexican party with the Comintern. Manabendra Nath Roy (Bengali: মানবেন্দ্র নাথ রায় 1887 – January 25 ^[7] The party was forced underground in 1929, but was legalized in 1934 and developed good relations with president Lázaro Cárdenas. This article is about Gen Lázaro Cárdenas del Río For his grandson see Lázaro Cárdenas Batel. ^[8]

Likewise the Socialist Workers Party of Chile, founded in 1912, changed its name to the Communist Party and joined the Comintern in 1922. The Communist Party of Chile (Partido Comunista de Chile is a Chilean political party that advocates Communism.

The Communist Party of Argentina was founded in 1918. The Communist Party of Argentina (Partido Comunista de la Argentina is a Communist party from Argentina.

The Communist Party of Guatemala was founded in 1922.

On March 22, 1921 the Brazilian Communist Party was founded through the merger of various local groups. Events 238 - Gordian I and his son Gordian II are proclaimed Roman emperor. Year 1921 ( MCMXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1921 calendar of the Gregorian calendar Brazilian Communist Party (in Portuguese, Partido Comunista Brasileiro) was a political party in Brazil, founded in 1922

In Ecuador, the Socialist Party was founded in 1925. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Ecuador topics. It would develop into the Communist Party of Ecuador. Communist Party of Ecuador (in Spanish: Partido Comunista del Ecuador) is a political party in Ecuador.

In 1928 José Carlos Mariátegui founded the Socialist Party of Peru, which two years later would become the Communist Party. José Carlos Mariátegui La Chira ( 14 June 1894 16 April 1930) was a Peruvian journalist Political philosopher, and activist The Peruvian Communist Party (in Spanish: Partido Comunista Peruano) is a Communist party in Peru.

The Communist Party of Costa Rica was founded in 1931. The People's Vanguard Party, or Popular Vanguard Party (in Spanish: Partido Vanguardia Popular) is a Communist party in Costa Rica Under the name Workers-Peasants Bloc the party obtained some influence in the national parliament and in major municipalities. Notably, by the early 1930s it was the only non-clandestine communist force in the Central American region. ^[9]

The Puerto Rican Communist Party was founded in 1934. The Puerto Rican Communist Party ( Spanish: Partido Comunista Puertorriqueño, PCP was a Communist party in Puerto Rico.

Notably, the development of the communist movement in Latin America differed than that of Europe, as several communist parties developed out of the Anarcho-Syndicalist tradition rather than the Social Democracy.

Communism in the Middle East during the Comintern period

Communist ideas and activities reached the Middle East as Jewish immigrants in Palestine founded the Socialist Workers Party in 1919. Palestine is a name which has been widely used since Roman times to refer to the region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. Likewise, in the same year, French communists began organizing in the Magreb. The Maghreb (المغرب العربي al-Maġrib al-ʿArabī) also rendered Maghrib (or rarely Moghreb) meaning "place of Sunset In November 1919, the second Comintern congress issued a call for building communist parties in the Muslim world.

The formation of a Marxist movement in Palestine prompted formations other likeminded groups and parties in the rest of the region. In 1922 the Egyptian Communist Party was founded, by elements of the Egyptian Socialist Party. The Egyptian Socialist Party (الحزب الاشتراكي المصري was a socialist Political party in Egypt, founded in 1921 In 1923 the Palestine Communist Party was formed through the merger of splinter factions which developed out of the Socialist Workers Party. Year 1923 ( MCMXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Palestine Communist Party (פאלעסטינישע קומוניסטישע פרטיי Palestiner Kumunistishe Partie, abbreviated PKP was a Political party in The Syrian-Lebanese Communist Party was founded in 1924. Syrian-Lebanese Communist Party (in Arabic: al-hizb al-shuyū'ī al-sūrī al-lubnānī) a communist Political party operating in Syria and The Egyptian party was affiliated as a section of Comintern in 1923, the Palestinian party in 1924 and the Syrio-Lebanese in 1928. The Iraqi Communist Party was founded in 1934. Since its foundation in 1934 the Iraqi Communist Party (in Arabic: الحزب الشيوعي العراقي has dominated the left in Iraqi politics ^[10]

The growth of the Arab communist movement can be seen with backdrop of enthusiasm on the Middle East over the anti-colonial policies and support for the right of self-determination of the Bolsheviks. Particularly, the realising by the new Soviet government of secret deals (like Sykes-Picot Agreement) between the Western states. ^[11] However, the cadres of the communist parties were largely limited to Western-educated intellectuals. ^[12]

After the Popular Front policy was introduced by Comintern in 1935, Arab communits began cooperation with national bourgeoisie forces, with help the communists to break their isolation stemming from the instance of the 1928 decision of Comintern to avoid cooperation with the bourgeoise in spite of the limited strength of the industrial working class in the region. ^[13]

Communism in Africa during the Comintern period

The only section of the Comintern in sub-Saharan Africa was the Communist Party of South Africa. South African Communist Party ( SACP) is a Political party in South Africa. The party was formed in 1921, through the merger of various local communist and socialist groups. CPSA gained prominence during the armed Rand Rebellion by white mineworkers in 1922. The Rand Rebellion (or Rand Revolt, or Second Rand Revolt) was an armed uprising of Afrikaans and English-speaking white miners in Witwatersrand, Union The dominance of the white minority of the party troubled the Comintern, which obligied the CPSA to adopt a 'Native Republic' thesis, implied that South Africa belonged to its original Black population. After the adoption by Comintern of the Popular Front line, the party began cooperation with the African National Congress. The African National Congress (ANC has been South Africa 's governing party supported by its Tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions

Communism in Oceania during the Comintern period

The New Zealand Marxian Association was formed in 1918. In March 1921, the group behind it came to together to form the Communist Party of New Zealand. The Communist Party of New Zealand (CPNZ was a Communist Political party in New Zealand from the 1920s to the early 1990s The party initiated work amonsgt trade unions, but remained a minor force in New Zealand politics.

The Communist Party of Australia was founded in Sydney on October 30, 1920 by a group of socialists inspired by reports of the Russian Revolution. This article is about the historical Communist Party of Australia dissolved in 1991 Sydney (ˈsɪdniː is the most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 4 Events 637 - Antioch surrenders to the Muslim forces under Rashidun Caliphate after the Battle of Iron bridge. Year 1920 ( MCMXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920 of the Gregorian calendar Among the founders of the party were a prominent Sydney trade unionist, Jock Garden, Adela Pankhurst (daughter of the British suffragist Emmeline Pankhurst) and most of the then illegal Australian section of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). The IWW soon broke its relations the Communist Party, over disagreements with the direction of the Soviet Union and Bolshevism. In its early years, mainly through Garden's efforts, the party achieved some influence in the trade union movement in New South Wales, but by the mid 1920s the party had dwindled. The party was rebuilt by Jack Kavanagh and Esmonde Higgins. Jack Kavanagh was a leader of the Socialist Party of Canada from 1908 to 1921 and was a founding member of the Communist Party of Canada. However, as the worldwide campaign of purges of the national Comintern sections party leadership was expelled by the international. A new grouping took over the leadership. After the adoption of the Popular Front line, the party started experience some growth through its trade union work. It did however not achieve any electoral success.

Post-war era

Following the end of the Second World War, the world communist movement faced a new scenario. Its centralized organizational body, the Comintern, had been dissolved and the respective sections were now independent entities. Cominform, the Communist Information Bureau, was founded as a substitute of the disbanded international. Cominform ( Com munist Inform ation Bureau) is the common name for what was officially referred to as the Information Bureau of the Communist

The foreign relations of the Soviet Union had changed considerably. From being an international pariah, the Soviet Union was now credited with having defeated Germany. There was no longer any apparent risk of direct Western military action against the Soviet Union. Informally, the Western states acknowledged the dominance of the Soviet Union in its neighbouring countries whilst the Soviet Union did not actively encourage adventurism in the capitalist countries.

The victory over Fascism contributed to a global surge of popularity of communist parties, especially in Europe. In several countries communists achieved electoral progress. Emboldened by the potential of achieving influence through parliamentarian work as well as new Soviet policies of Peaceful co-existence, the political line of the communist movement changed. Peaceful coexistence was a theory developed during the Cold War among Soviet -influenced Communist states that they could peacefully coexist with capitalist

Interestingly, relations between the People's Republic of China and Soviet Union quickly broke down during this period. Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 This eventually lead to antagonism and near conflict between the two communist nations, somewhat comparable to the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States of America. Cold War is the state of conflict tension and competition that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR and their respective allies from the The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 The United States of America —commonly referred to as the See Sino-Soviet split. The Sino-Soviet split was a gradual divergence of diplomatic ties between the People's Republic of China (PRC and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR

Notable for the immediate post-war era was the formation of international organizations linked to the communist movement, like the World Federation of Trade Unions, World Federation of Democratic Youth, etc. TemplateInfobox Union for usage -->The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU was established in the wake of the Second The World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY is a left-wing youth organization recognized by the United Nations as an international youth Non-governmental organization .

Communism in Eastern Europe during the post-war era

By the end of the Second World War, a robust Soviet military presence covered much of Eastern Europe, to ensure dictatorship of the proletariat, and for the security of the USSR including East Germany, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Romania and Poland. The German Democratic Republic ( GDR; Deutsche Demokratische Republik DDR; commonly known in English as East Germany) was a Socialist state Hungary (Magyarország 'mɔɟɔrorsaːg) officially in English the Republic of Hungary ( Magyar Köztársaság, literally Magyar (Hungarian Republic Czechoslovakia may also refer to what is now the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The state of Bulgaria (България transliterated bg-Latn ''Balgaria'' The country preserves the traditions (in ethnic name language and alphabet of the First Bulgarian Romania ( dated: Rumania, Roumania Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland

Governments were formed by communist partisans with the help of the Soviet Union. The role communists played in the defeat of fascism gained them the sympathy of their citizens. In some cases fusions between the communist parties and other parties were carried out, like in the cases of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, the Hungarian Workers' Party, the Romanian Workers' Party and the Polish United Workers' Party. The Socialist Unity Party of Germany ( German: Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands, SED) was the governing party of the German Democratic The Hungarian Workers' Party ( Hungarian: Magyar Dolgozók Pártja - MDP was the ruling Communist party of Hungary from 1948 to The Romanian Communist Party ( Romanian: ro Partidul Comunist Român, PCR was a communist political party in Romania. The Polish United Workers' Party (PUWP Polska Zjednoczona Partia Robotnicza - PZPR was a Communist party in the People's Republic of Poland from 1948 to 1990

In Yugoslavia and Albania, the communist partisans had liberated their countries without Soviet military aid, causing them to be largely independent of the will of the CPSU. See also Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslavia ( Serbo-Croatian This article is about the country in southern Europe For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Albania topics.

The new communist-ruled republics were People's Democracies, which is an intermediary phase in the progress towards building socialism. People's democracy is also a term used to refer to the People's Republic. Non-communist parties were either banned or co-opted (in East Germany non-communist parties were allowed to exist. )

Communism today

Current communist states

After the fall of the Communist states in the Eastern Bloc, the world communist movement was arguably weakened. Communist state is a term used by many Political scientists to describe a Form of government in which the State operates under a one-party system During the Cold War, the term Communist Bloc (or Soviet Bloc) was used to refer to the Soviet Union and countries it either controlled or that were However, the political movement of communism survived the fall of the Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc. Of the five remaining communist states, China, Vietnam, and Laos have moved toward market economies but without major privatization of the state sector; see Socialism with Chinese characteristics and doi moi for more details. This article is about the term itself and its relationships For its implementation and effects see Economy of the People's Republic of China and Chinese economic Doi moi (the usual English spelling of Vietnamese Đổi mới = "renovation" is the name given to the economic reforms initiated by in Vietnam Cuba has recently emerged from the crisis sparked by the fall of the Soviet Union given the growth in its volume of trade with its new allies Venezuela and China; see the article Special Period for more on Cuba's crisis and re-emergence. The Special Period in Peacetime ( Período especial en tiempo de paz) in Cuba was an extended period of Economic Crisis that began in North Korea, with its ideology of Juche, has had less success in coping with the collapse of the Soviet bloc than its counterparts, although there are no signs thus far of the North Korean government being particularly unstable. The Juche Idea (주체사상 Juche Sasang) is the official state Ideology of North Korea and the Political system based on it

Communists in democratic governance

In Moldova, the communist party won the 2001 and 2005 parliamentary elections. Moldova, officially the Republic of Moldova ( Republica Moldova) is a Landlocked country in Eastern Europe, located between Romania The Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova ( Partidul Comuniştilor din Republica Moldova) is a Communist Political party in Moldova, In Cyprus, the veteran communist Dimitris Christofias of AKEL won the 2008 presidential election. Cyprus (Κύπρος transliterated: Kýpros,; Kıbrıs officially the Republic of Cyprus (Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία Kypriakī́ Dīmokratía Dimitris Christofias (Δημήτρης Χριστόφιας also "Demetris" is a left-wing Greek Cypriot politician and the current and sixth The Progressive Party of Working People ( Greek: Ανορθωτικό Κόμμα Εργαζόμενου Λαού Anorthotikó Kómma Ergazómenou Laoú, AKEL The national government of India depends on the parliamentary support of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and CPI(M) leds the state governments in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The Communist Party of India (Marxist (abbreviated CPI(M or CPM) is a Political party in India. West Bengal ( Bengali: পশ্চিমবঙ্গ Poshchim Bônggo poʃtʃim bɔŋgo is a state in eastern India. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; ( Bengali script: ত্রিপুরা is a state in North-East India. In Ukraine and Russia, the communists came second in the 2002 and 2003 elections, respectively. Ukraine (Україна Ukrayina, /ukrɑˈjinɑ/ is a country in Eastern Europe. Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending In the Czech Republic, the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia came third in the 2002 elections, and so did the Communist Party of Portugal in 2005. The Czech Republic ( ˈt͡ʃɛskaː ˈrɛpuˌblɪka short form in Česko ˈt͡ʃɛskɔ also called Czechia, The Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia ( Czech: Komunistická strana Čech a Moravy, KSČM) is a political party in the Czech Republic. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. In Venezuela, the Communist Party of Venezuela is closely aligned with the government of Hugo Chávez, while in neighbouring Brazil the Communist Party of Brazil is a member of the governing leftwing coalition led by president Lula da Silva. Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the The Communist Party of Venezuela (in Spanish: Partido Comunista de Venezuela, PCV is a Marxist-Leninist political party and the oldest continuously Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías (ˈuɰo rafaˈel ˈtʃaβ̞es ˈfɾias (born July 28 1954 is the current President of Venezuela. |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld The Communist Party of Brazil ( Partido Comunista do Brasil, PCdoB is a political party in Brazil. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (pronounced /lu'iz i'nasju 'lulɐ da 'siwvɐ/; born October 27, 1945) known simply as Lula, is the thirty-fifth and In South Africa, the South African Communist Party (SACP) is a member of the Tripartite alliance alongside the African National Congress and the Congress of South African Trade Unions. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa South African Communist Party ( SACP) is a Political party in South Africa. The Tripartite Alliance is an alliance between the African National Congress (ANC the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU and the South African The African National Congress (ANC has been South Africa 's governing party supported by its Tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions Template talkInfobox Union for usage --> The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU is a Trade union Italy, Syria and Sri Lanka have communist ministers in their national governments. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island Spain, France, Japan and Greece among other countries were communist parties that enjoy a level of electoral success. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία

Current Communist insurgencies

Colombia is in the midst of a civil war which has been waged since 1966 between the Colombian government and aligned rightwing paramilitaries against two communist guerrilla groups; the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - People's Army (FARC-EP) and the National Liberation Army (ELN). Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. A civil war is a War between a State and domestic political actors that are in control of some part of the territory claimed by the state Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. Paramilitarism in Colombia refers to the origin and development of Paramilitary groups in Colombia during the 20th century The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia – Ejército del Pueblo also known by the Acronym of National Liberation Army (Ejército de Liberación Nacional ELN is a Revolutionary Marxist, Insurgent guerrilla group that has been operating In Nepal a brutal civil war was fought between the Nepal Royal Army and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist (नेपाल कम्युनिष्ट पार्टी (माओवादी is a Maoist Political party The war came to an end with a peace treaty in 2006 and the CPN(Maoist) joined an interim government (which it left in September 2007), which also included the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist). Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist, also known as CPN-UML, CPN(UML, is one of the largest Communist parties in Nepal As of 2007, communists hold a majority of seats in the interim parliament. On January 15 2007 the Pratinidhi Sabha, the legislature of Nepal, was dissolved and a new Interim legislature was formed The Philippines is still experiencing a low scale guerrilla insurgency by the Maoist, New People's Army while the armed wing of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) is fighting a war against the government of India and is active in half the country. The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP The New People's Army ( NPA) is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines. The Communist Party of India (Maoist is an underground Maoist Political party in India.

See also

• Cold War
• History of the Soviet Union
• Mao Zedong

References