Communism in Bahrain edit
The communist party in Bahrain, the National Liberation Front, was illegal for decades. Its offices were based in exile in Damascus. In the early 2000s, as part of the ongoing political reforms in the country, its exiled cadres were allowed to return and prisoners released. The Front founded a legal structure, the Progressive Democratic Tribune, ahead of the 2002 elections. It won two parliamentary seats in that election, but lost them in the 2006 election.
Communism in Burkina Faso edit
Communist groups gained influence over government during the period of Thomas Sankara. However, after the overthrow of Sankara some groups were forced underground (and later dissolved or abandonned communism) and other were amalgated into the governing ODP/MT (which renounced Marxism in 1997). Currently two factions of the formerly pro-Soviet African Independence Party operating, one inside the governing coalition and one as part of the opposition. Moreover there is the Voltaic Revolutionary Communist Party, formerly linked to Albania, which was the sole major communist faction that never supported Sankara.
Communism in the Faroe Islands edit
During the 1970s and 1980s the main communist group in the Faroes was the anti-revionist OF(ml), which dissolved around 1984. There were also a pro-Soviet Faroese Communist Party, but it appears to be moribund by now.
Communism in Guatemala edit
The communist party in Guatemala, the Guatemalan Party of Labour (PGT), was illegal for decades. As the guerrilla coordination organization URNG, to which PGT belonged, was converted into a political party in 1997 PGT merged into it.
Communism in India edit
Three Indian states, West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura, with a total population of over 110 million are governed by communist coalitions. The main communist parties are the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Communist Party of India. Both have presence in the national parliament, and the national government of Manmohan Singh is (as of 2006) dependent on the parliamentary support of the communist parties. Outside of the political mainstream Maoists (often called Naxalites) conduct guerrilla warfare in various states.
Communism in Saudi Arabia edit
Emerging trends of communism and leftwing Arab Nationalism were harshly repressed in Saudi Arabia. A communist party existed, and operated from exile in Syria. However, this party along with the Arab Socialist Action Party disbanded in the early 1990's in return for release of political prisoners and the right to return of exiled activists.
Communism in South Africa edit
The South African Communist Party was illegal during the Apartheid era. It worked in alliance with the main resistance movement, the African National Congress. After the end of Apartheid, the Party forms part of the ANC-led national government. The SACP, ANC and the COSATU trade union movement forms a Tripartite Alliance, that contests elections jointly. After the fall of Apartheid, the SACP has grown significantly but its alliance in government with the ANC has not always been smooth. Occasionally opposition is voiced from the SACP against the economic policies of the ANC government.
Communism in Sri Lanka edit
The history of the Lankan communist movement is somewhat unique as the Communist Party emerged out of a split of a Trotskyist party (LSSP)[1] However both the Communist Party and the LSSP have been eclipsed by the radical JVP, which also endorses communist ideology. The CP and LSSP are minor parties today (one MP each), whereas the JVP is third largest political party. Both the CP and the LSSP have (as of 2006) ministers in the national government.
Communism in Sweden edit
The main communist party in Sweden, the Left Party - Communists, renounced communism in 1990 and was transformed into the Left Party. Its voteshare had generally moved between 4 to 6% in national elections. Since the 1960s it had been oriented towards Eurocommunism and Popular Socialism. The pro-Soviet breakaway group, APK, went financially bankrupt in 1995 but was reconstituted as the Communist Party of Sweden (SKP). This group hold marginal political influence. One of the parties of the anti-revisionist trend, the KPML(r), has survived. It currently operates by the name of Communist Party, and has a larger membership than SKP.
- ^ The Lanka Sama Samaja Party was not really a fullfledged Troskyist party at the time of its foundation, but the split occured in a situation were the Trotskyist had started to consolidate their hold over the party.