Which Socialism, Whose Détente?
West European Communism and the Czechoslovak Crisis
of 1968
Maud Bracke, University of Glasgow
This study analyzes the impact of the Czechoslovak
crisis of 1968–1969 on the two major communist
parties in the West: the Italian and French ones. Discusses
the central strategic and ideological tensions which
these parties needed to deal with: domestic belonging
versus allegiance to the world communist movement, doctrinal
orthodoxy in a context of rapid societal changes, and
the question of revolution and reform. These key problems
were situated in different contexts: the crisis in the
“world communist movement” after 1956 and
the Sino-Soviet rift, socio-economic modernization and
political radicalization in Western Europe, and the
shift from Cold War to early détente on the European
continent. The research for this work is based on the
study of a large collection of recently released primary
sources, particularly, the internal records of various
communist parties in Europe.
Contents
Introduction; Chapter
1 West European Communism and Internationalism.
Theoretical and Analytical Framework Part I.
West European Communism and Internationalism, 1956–1967
Chapter 2 West European Communism
and the Changes of 1956; Chapter 3
West European Communism and Internationalism in the
1960s (1962–1967); Part II. The Prague
Spring, the Invasion, the Dissent; Chapter
4 West European communism and the Prague
Spring: reform and détente; Chapter
5 Invasion, Dissent, Crisis;
Chapter 6 Normalization and Realignment;
Part III. The Consequences: Internationalism
after Czechoslovakia; Chapter
7 Resetting Internationalism (1969–1970)
Chapter 8 Internationalism and Eurocommunism
in the 1970s General Conclusions:
Internationalism, Détente, Revolution; Abbreviations,
Annex 1 Membership figures
for the PCI and PCF, 1956–1979; Annex
2 Electoral results for the PCI and PCF
(per cent), 1956–1979; Primary sources;
Bibliography; Index
"Maude Bracke has drawn extensively on formerly
inaccessible materials from the PCI, PCF, and former
East German archives for her book. The result is an
interesting, valuable study that makes an important
contribution to the scholarship on these two parties.
All scholars interested in west European communism and
the international communist movement during the Cold
War will benefit from reading this insightful, absorbing
book". - Slavic Review
"A sharp, thoughtful, graciously written study,
based on impressive research in the archives of the
French and Italian parties, as well as East German records,
for insights into Soviet actions. The author lucidly
organizes her book in small numbered section summaries.
The book does not change the overall understanding of
the positions and roles of the two parties, but it adds
much rich detail and subtlety. Summing up: highly recommended".
- Choice
2007
424 pages
ISBN 978-963-7326-94-3 cloth $50.00 / €42.95 /
£40.00
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