Western Europe

The Communist parties of Western Europe were established between 1918 and 1923, following the Russian Revolution. They have since enjoyed differing degrees of political power in their respective countries. Since the early 1960s the French Communist Party has forged electoral alliances with non-Communist parties of the Left and the Center. Although it has never won a majority, it was the largest of all French parties by the late 1970s. The French Communist Party joined with those of Italy and Spain during the 1970s in advocating a more liberal, pluralistic form of communism (Eurocommunism). The Italian Communist Party appeared as a major force in Italian politics in 1944. At the local level the party has held power in many municipalities since the late 1940s. Seeking to redefine its program for the 1990s, the Italian Communist Party took a new name, the Democratic Party of the Left, and emphasized social democracy, women's rights, and environmental issues.