Communism was one of the most significant political and social movements of the twentieth century, but also exhibited a wealth of contradictions. In this volume, Andreas Wirsching looks at numerous examples to reveal the irrevocable tension between the ideological goals of Marxism-Leninism and the political and social practice of communists "on the ground."

Autorentext

Andreas Wirsching, Institute for Contemporary History, Munich-Berlin, Ludwig Maximlians University Munich, Germany.