Abstract
Had the question, ‘what are the relative strengths and weaknesses of communism?’ been asked fifty years ago, a likely and complex answer might have read as follows: in contrast to capitalism (which at that time was in the throes of predictably recurring cycles of crisis), the ultimate strength of communism resides in its vision of a planned and rational society. Irrespective of his admiration or contempt, the casual observer might also have pointed to the Marxist—Leninist ethos as a source of strength. Rightly so, for it created a unique modern type: the professional revolutionary, armed prophet of messianic expectations and self-sacrifice, expert of the technology of power beyond good and evil.
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© 1991 Foreign Policy Research Institute
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Fehér, F. (1991). Communism’s Strength: Democracy’s Weakness. In: Tismaneanu, V., Shapiro, J. (eds) Debates on the Future of Communism. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-11783-3_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-11783-3_1
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-11785-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-11783-3
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