УСПОН И CУНOBPAT ЕВРОКОМУНИЗМА
THE RISE AND FALL OF EURO-COMMUNISM

Summary/Abstract: Following three principal issues are elaborated by the author in the present study related to Euro-communism: (i) Formation of EurO-communism — which is explained by the author by two groups of facts which influenced by the end of the sixties • the creation of new strategy of the communist parties of developed capitalist countries. The first group is related to the transformations of contemporary capitalism which were crucial in the change of strategy of European communists. The other is related to the radicalisation of the class struggle during social and political disturbances between 1968 and 1972. (ii) The second issue relates to significant new elements which were introduced by Euro-communism into political theory and strategy of socialism. These are: (a) the type of the party has been changed, since Euro-communists have abandoned the type of cadre-party which was replaced by the party of masses; (b) the idea has been greatly revised of a communist party as a single avant-garde of the working class; (c) the position has been changed of the generally negative treatment of the existing bourgeois society; (d) critical attitude has been forwarded towards the blocks and the policy of force in international relations; (e) in international workers’ movement the Euro-communists reject any internationalization where the autonomy would be questioned of the party; (f) Euro-communists have extended the social and political dimension of alliance; (g) they have rejected the theoretical conception and practice of dictatorship of the proletariat; (h) they have opted for a democratic road to socialism. (iii) The third issue is related to the crisis and fall of Euro-communism. After the initial rise and the zenith, which has been reached in the middle of the seventies, the Euro-communism began, since 1978, to experience certain lethargy and decadence. The author submits the following reasons to explain the crisis of Euro-communism, namely: (a) Euro-communists were not successful in offering a real, theoretically firm and acceptable alternative; (b) existing of a discrepancy between the leadership and the basis of the Euro-communist parties; (c) the conflict has taken place in these parties between he traditional methods of action and new forms of revolutionary conduct; (d) capital has succeeded again to attract and coordinate with its own interests the middle strata of population, who abandon the alliance with communists; (e) deterioration of international situation and greater tension in the relations of the blocks; (f) the assault of neo-conservativism and suppressing of ideas, projects and strategy of the Left in the West.

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