Western European Communists and the Collapse of Communism

David S. Bell teaches at Leeds University

• The Italian Communist Party - Gorbachev and the end of really existing socialism, Stephen Gundle; post-Communist parties in Finland and Scandinavia - a red-green road to the 21st century, David Arter; French Communism's final struggle', D.S.Bell; the Portuguese party - loyalty in the Communist ideal, Maria Teresa Particio and Alan D.Stoleroff; the Greek Communist party in the post Gorbachev era, Ole L.Smith; requiem for the Spanish Communist party, Jose Amodia; endgame - the Communist party of Great Britain, John Callaghan; the German Communists', Heinrich Bortfeldt and Wayne C.Thompson; the Communist party of the Netherlands - premature perestroika, Gerrit Voerman; conclusion - the Communist international and the future of Communism.

'The articles are written by some of the best scholars in the field. The depth and breadth of analysis of each of the chapters makes this book one of the most interesting and stimulating recent contributions to our understanding of the Communist fringe in Western Europe. It is also a major addition to the ongoing discussion on the current and future role and strategy of what remains of the traditional and new Left in the national politics of the dozen West European countries included in this collection.'The International History Review'David Bell gives a useful introduction which is insightful, yet succinct.'Political Studies'The collection...offers a useful comparative framework, as well as information about the background to the changes undergone and difficulties still ahead in the search for stable new ground.'Modern and Contemporary France'... the analyses of both the French (by Bell) and the Spanish CPs are excellent. J.Amodia's account of the abject end of Spanish co