The Decline Of The World Communist Movement: Moscow, Beijing, And Communist Parties In The West

Whatever happened to Eurocommunism? Heinz Timmermann is at his best in describing the differing destinies of the Italian, French and other Western communist parties. His book is also an excellent guide to Moscow's changing strategies in trying to organize and utilize the "world communist movement"-with particular attention to the key role of China (and leaving aside, for the most part, the ruling parties in Eastern Europe, Cuba and Vietnam). Looking at the Gorbachev record, the author stresses the downgrading of ideology in favor of mobilizing communist parties in support of Soviet foreign policy objectives. Has that not been standard Soviet practice since Stalin's time?