THE RISE OF MODERN COMMUNISM

by Massimo Salvadori ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 15, 1952

Professor and journalist, with a broad international background, and a political record of anti-fascist,anti-communist activities, here supplies a very definite d for a brief, concise and pertinent study of modern Communism, its history and ideology and organization. While neither as extensive an analysis as Borkenau, or even Ebon, it provides sound introductory groundwork, clarifying many issues, and presenting the evidence, the data, objectively, dispassionately, with- at the same time -- no attempt to conceal the angle of approach. With Communism the great threat to democracy today, everyone should accept the necessity of an informed viewpoint, on the backgrounds -- social, economic, historical -- against which it developed, the various manifestations evidenced in its development, the steps by which today's major example in Soviet Russia reached its peak of totalitarian dictatorship. Brief space given to the years of beginnings; greater expansion of the formative years between 1917-1927, ending in Stalinism in control; sufficient for clarity in presentation of the organization period (""Communists are far from having a monopoly in irrational thinking; they simply do it better""). Communism during the war and the concessions made for security; Communism in all parts of the world since the war, still a minority -- but lead by a cohesive group similar in mentality, a summary of the aspirations which hold them together in a well-integrated system -- these are important facets of this study. In all the end impression left is that here we have not something new in substance, but new in the extent of control over the individual. Prof. Salvadori does not feel optimistic as to a break within the Politburo. He feels that only by internal civil war or external attack can we hope for the disintegration of Communism either in Russia or China -- its two greatest strongholds. To those who have followed the rise of modern Communism closely, there is little new. To the majority of readers, this is the answer to the need for bare bones information, concretely presented.

Pub Date: March 15, 1952

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Henry Holt

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1952

Categories: NONFICTION