The Protracted Conflict

JAMES BURNHAM

The French and Italian Communist parties are the largest Communist parties in the non-Communist world. Like all serious political parties, they seek to win governmental power—to control the government. In their nearly sixty years of existence they have failed to reach their goal. For brief periods (both parties in the immediate aftermath of World War II, and the French party also in 1936), they have had a few cabinet posts, but there never has been a solidly Communist or a Communist-led government in either country.

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JAMES BURNHAM

The French and Italian Communist parties are the largest Communist parties in the non-Communist world. Like all serious political parties, they seek to win governmental power—to control the government. In their nearly sixty years of existence they have failed to reach their goal. For brief periods (both parties in the immediate aftermath of World War II, and the French party also in 1936), they have had a few cabinet posts, but there never has been a solidly Communist or a Communist-led government in either country.