EUROCOMMUNISM Meaning and
Definition
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Eurocommunism is a political concept that emerged during the late 20th century in certain European communist parties, presenting an alternative perspective to the orthodox Marxism-Leninism adopted by the Soviet Union and other Eastern Bloc countries. Eurocommunist parties sought to establish a democratic socialism through parliamentary means and rejected the authoritarianism, centralized governance, and one-party system prevalent in traditional communist regimes.
Eurocommunism aimed to reconcile the fundamental tenets of communism with the values of democracy and liberty, emphasizing the importance of individual rights, civil liberties, and participation in electoral processes. Advocates of Eurocommunism sought to adapt Marxist principles to contemporary Western European conditions, rejecting the perception of communism as a revolutionary force seeking to overthrow capitalism and opting for a gradualist approach towards socialism.
The main proponents of Eurocommunism included the Communist parties in Italy, Spain, and France, which had significant popular support and sought to distance themselves from Moscow and its orthodox interpretation of communism. However, Eurocommunism did not represent a uniform ideology, as each party had its own nuances and priorities reflecting the specific social, political, and economic circumstances of their respective countries.
Despite gaining some popularity during the 1970s and 1980s, Eurocommunism faced criticism from both the traditional communist parties that saw it as a deviation from Marxist doctrine and from the capitalist establishments that remained wary of any association with communist ideologies. Ultimately, Eurocommunism failed to significantly impact European political landscapes, and many of the parties that embraced this concept either dissolved or transitioned into social democratic movements.
Etymology of EUROCOMMUNISM
The word "eurocommunism" is composed of two parts: "euro" and "communism".
1. "Euro" refers to Europe or European. It comes from the Latin word "Europa" which originated from the Greek word "Eurṓpē". The term "Euro-" is commonly used to denote something related to Europe.
2. "Communism" refers to the political ideology and socioeconomic system that advocates for a classless society and collective ownership of the means of production. The term "communism" originated from the French word "communisme", which was derived from the Latin word "communis" meaning "common or universal".
Therefore, the etymology of "eurocommunism" can be understood as the combination of "euro" denoting Europe or European and "communism" referring to the political ideology of a classless society.
Similar spelling word for EUROCOMMUNISM
