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European Communism, by Franz Borkenau
- Abstract
Mr. Borkenau writes as an ex-Communist, and although his inside knowledge of the movement dates from a long time ago, it has given him that instinctive understanding of the workings of Communist organization which it is so hard for the outsider to attain. This is not to say that he is always right in his interpretation; his versions of policy-making in Moscow and conflicts among party leaders are often highly speculative, and one does not necessarily guess right about the intentions of Stalin or Malenkov because of previous experience as a party member any more than one necessarily makes a fortune in a financial crisis on account of former practice in stock market operations. But at least Mr. Borkenau avoids the kind of errors and misunderstandings which usually beset the inexperienced liberal in approaching the history of Communism; he knows what it is all about and how the comrades behave among themselves.
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