Li Ruiqin: The Current Status, Goals, and Tasks of Communist Parties in Central and Eastern Europe
The communist parties of the eight original Eastern European countries were mostly founded in the 1910s and 1920s and have a glorious history. In 1989, as the communist parties of various Eastern European countries moved toward collapse during the reforms, they left behind a deep, profound, and far-reaching warning and inspiration. Among the sixteen Central and Eastern European countries formed after the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the drastic changes in Eastern Europe, the reconstructed and restored communist and workers' parties have mostly been able to adhere to Marxism-Leninism and defend the history of socialism. However, overall, they are characterized by more weakness than strength. They are still exploring paths to emerge from their low point, facing the pressure and challenges of both defending history and opening up new frontiers.
I. Reconstruction and Restoration of Parties: Entering the Stage of Striving for Legitimacy and Expanding Influence
Following the drastic changes in Eastern Europe, the original communist parties in the region changed their banners and titles [1], with most evolving into social democratic parties. After right-wing and center-right parties came to power in some countries, they declared the communist parties illegal and explicitly prohibited their activities. Romania was the first country to ban any mention of the communist party on its territory. In 1992, Albania legally prohibited the activities of the communist party as well as those of Marxist-Leninist and racist parties. In 1993, Hungary banned the use of communist symbols. Countries such as Latvia and Lithuania equated Soviet symbols with Nazi symbols. Since 2015, Ukraine has "prohibited the public use and promotion of symbols of communism and the communist regime. Communists are treated extremely poorly, and the Soviet legacy has been completely repudiated." Communists have carried out the work of party reconstruction and restoration under these difficult circumstances.
Since the "explosive" eastward expansion of the European Union in 2004, all Eastern European countries have joined the EU, marking the end of the "Sovietization" of Eastern Europe. During Central and Eastern Europe's integration into Europe, the European Parliament—one of the three major institutions of the EU—passed several anti-communist resolutions. On April 2, 2009, the European Parliament passed the resolution "On European Conscience and Totalitarianism," calling for the recognition of "communism, Nazism, and fascism as a shared legacy" and equating communism with Nazism and fascism. On July 3, 2009, the OSCE also passed the resolution "On Divided Europe Reunited: Promoting Human Rights and Civil Liberties in the OSCE Region in the 21st Century." On September 19, 2019, on the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II, the European Parliament passed another resolution, "On the Importance of European Remembrance for the Future of Europe," which continued to equate communism with Nazism. This motion was supported by political groups including the European People's Party, the Socialists and Democrats, the Liberals, the Greens, and the Conservatives; it passed with 535 votes in favor, 66 against, and 52 abstentions. Consequently, some countries legalized reactionary measures targeting communist parties. The European Parliament's continuous issuance of such anti-communist resolutions has had a significant impact on the survival and development of communist and workers' parties, especially in Eastern European countries that have already joined the EU, leaving some parties in a state of extreme hardship.
Despite the unfavorable general environment, communist and workers' parties in Central and Eastern Europe have strived to complete their reconstruction and restoration, entering a stage of fighting for legitimacy and strengthening their influence. These parties clearly take Marxism-Leninism as their guiding ideology. Their primary strategic goal is the revival of socialism and the establishment of socialist states in the post-socialist geopolitical space, while tactically seeking flexible cooperation with "center-left" forces worldwide. In recent years, some communist and workers' parties have achieved new developments and breakthroughs. In July 2018, the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) became a negotiated partner of the Czech governing coalition by supporting a minority government, ending its 28-year status as an opposition party. The Hungarian Workers' Party held its 27th Congress on December 8, 2018. In October 2019, János Gulyás, a member of the Hungarian Workers' Party, was re-elected as the mayor of Borsodnádasd in the Hungarian local elections, and three other party members were elected as municipal representatives. On July 21, 2019, on the eve of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of Poland, the Communist Party of Poland held its 5th Congress, attended by dozens of delegates from regional party organizations. On February 14, 2015, the New Communist Party of Yugoslavia adopted its latest party statutes. On June 27, 2016, the "Communist Party of Romania of the 21st Century" successfully registered with the national Ministry of Justice. After its founding in 1996, the Bulgarian Communist Party formed a political alliance with the Bulgarian Socialist Party, and its influence has steadily increased, with primary party organizations active in 28 regions across the country. After Albania repealed the act banning communist party activities in April 1998, the Communist Party of Albania became the first party to register with the election commission. In 2006, the Communist Party of Albania held a unification congress attended by 300 delegates, where Hysni Milloshi was elected as the party leader. In the 2017 parliamentary elections, the party received 1,029 votes (0.07%).
The communist and workers' parties in this region suffered devastating blows after the drastic changes in Eastern Europe, and the reconstruction, restoration, and development of these parties have been heavily constrained by the objective environment. Nevertheless, by adhering to their ideals and convictions—restoring, reconstructing, and persevering in a harsh environment while striving for development—these parties serve as an important symbol of the world socialist movement forging ahead during a low ebb.
II. Reflecting on the Century-long Journey of Party Building and Reaffirming the Glory of Socialist Revolution and Construction
In recent years, most communist parties in Eastern Europe have reached the historical milestone of their centenaries. These parties have reviewed their century-long developmental progress, revisited the glorious history of the period of socialist revolution and construction, and expressed confidence in the future prospects of world socialism.
The Communist Party of Poland, reconstructed in July 2002 after the drastic changes in Eastern Europe, is the only party in Poland that explicitly opposes capitalism. In December 2018, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Poland, party leaders published a long commemorative article pointing out that the founding congress of the Communist Party of Poland on December 16, 1918, announced that "the era of direct struggle for the realization of the socialist system has begun, and the era of social revolution has begun." The article reaffirmed the historic role played by the Communist Party of Poland in the process of Poland embarking on the socialist path under the influence of the October Revolution.
In 2021, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of its founding, the leadership of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia published a commemorative article citing the Nobel Prize-winning Czech poet Jaroslav Seifert, calling May 16, 1921, a "famous day." It pointed out that from that point onward, Czechoslovakia established a Marxist party and drew a clear line against social democracy. In 1946, the Communist Party won the election and led Czechoslovakia in gradually establishing a brand-new model of socialist socio-economic development. The temporary failure of socialism in 1989 led to the restoration of capitalism, but the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia continues to struggle for the realization of socialism.
On May 8, 2021, Constantin Crețu, Chairman of the Communist Party of Romania of the 21st Century, published an article commemorating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Romania. He declared that during the communist period, the Communist Party of Romania led the country in utilizing its material and human resources in the most effective manner, achieving the highest accomplishments in the economic and social fields in a thousand years of history. In April 1989, Romania became the only country in the world with no foreign debt. In the 21st century, the Communist Party of Romania supports a mixed market economy domestically that can maintain balanced national development; internationally, it supports the continuation of traditional friendships between the Romanian people and the peoples of all countries, the tradition of strategic cooperation with friendly nations, and the adoption of active, neutral, and denuclearized policies in the Black Sea and the Balkan Peninsula.
On November 23, 2018, Gyula Thürmer, Chairman of the Hungarian Workers' Party, published the article "Socialist Ideology is Invincible" to commemorate the party's centenary. Thürmer wrote that history has proven that socialism is not only a great dream but also a viable path for development. Only socialism can save humanity from the crisis of capitalism. To realize a new idealistic world, the first generation of Hungarian communists faced illegal imprisonment, torture, and even heroic sacrifice. An important task for the contemporary Hungarian Workers' Party is to encourage the new generation of communists to remember these martyrs and heroes and to uphold the party's goals and ideals.
The New Communist Party of Yugoslavia was founded on July 30, 1990. Its founding manifesto pointed out that the party is the successor and embodiment of all valuable ideas and traditions of the socialist and communist movements on the soil of the former Yugoslavia. In 2019, the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia, the party journal The New Communist published a special issue to mark several great anniversaries: the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Socialist Workers' Party of Yugoslavia, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Comintern, and the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Serbia and other regions.
After the disintegration of Yugoslavia, other communist parties such as the Socialist Workers' Party of Croatia and the Party of Communists of Serbia also appeared on the territory of the former Yugoslavia. The Party of Communists of Serbia, founded on April 19, 2008, is a revolutionary Marxist-Leninist party that advocates the restoration of Yugoslavia. On the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia, the Party of Communists of Serbia stated that no matter what great challenges it faces, the party will remain faithful to the principles and ideals of revolutionary Marxism-Leninism. The Socialist Workers' Party of Croatia was founded on October 25, 1997, and successfully registered in February 1998; it advocates for socialism and declares itself a modern left-wing party with unity of politics and action.
The ability of the restored and reconstructed communist and workers' parties in Central and Eastern Europe to inherit the party's century-old glorious traditions and uphold the convictions and goals of the party's founding century demonstrates the lasting influence and the light of truthful practice of the magnificent world socialist movement of the 20th century. Respecting and remembering history, and mourning and cherishing the glory of the party—which endured hardships to lead the socialist revolution and construction to eventual great achievements—is the starting point, driving force, and source for the various parties to set out once again.
III. Seeking Modes of Activity that Accord with the Characteristics of the Times to Demonstrate Influence
The reconstructed communist and workers' parties in Central and Eastern Europe have all abandoned armed struggle and violent revolution, striving instead to carry out activities through legal channels and pursue the parliamentary road. The main measures these parties use to expand influence and accumulate strength include: first, establishing official party websites, with those parties that have the capacity publishing newspapers and books to use media to showcase influence; second, actively participating in international forums and various activities organized by left-wing organizations such as the International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties, issuing joint statements, and seeking a union of forces; third, focusing on global hot-spot issues and the development of the world socialist movement, speaking out in a timely manner on major issues to state their positions and project their image. The modes of activity of these parties exhibit distinct characteristics of the times.
The official websites of these parties serve as platforms for exchange and interaction with communist parties worldwide. Online platforms play an important role in promoting the timeliness and effectiveness of information dissemination, as well as the implementation of party activities and work. The official websites of parties such as the Communist Party of Poland, the Hungarian Workers' Party, the New Communist Party of Yugoslavia, and the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia have established multiple columns and provide a wealth of information. The website content is updated quickly and carries a large volume of information, which can comprehensively and fully reflect the party's various activities and domestic and international hot-spot issues. For major events, historical milestones, and important anniversaries in the historical process of world socialism, the websites publish relevant commemorative articles and activity information.
Stanislav Grospič, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia, recently published a theoretical article titled "Socialism as a World Development Process," which explores the future of world socialism from the dual dimensions of history and reality. The article employs the Marxist method of class analysis to examine various contradictions in the contemporary world, emphasizing that the current world is still in a period of transition from capitalism to communism and that the communist movement remains the most universal direction for the development of human society. The article argues that starting from the 1917 Russian October Revolution, the entire 21st century and an even longer period will be in a state of transition. Marxism and its labor theory of value still possess practical significance. The financial and economic crisis that broke out in most Western countries in 2008 is a new manifestation of the basic contradictions of capitalism, as revealed by Marx, in the contemporary world; the rule of financial capital and the plundering by financial oligarchs are the main roots of today's capitalist crisis. Stanislav Grospič's article explains the contemporary value of Marxism and holds important theoretical and practical significance. The article was published on the official website of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia for study and discussion by the entire party and has also attracted the attention of communists in other countries.
On May 9, 2021, the official website of the Communist Party of Poland (CPP) published an article commemorating Patrice Lumumba, the former Prime Minister of the Congo. The article characterized Lumumba as a fighter for the Congolese national liberation movement who led the struggle for national independence against Belgian rule that erupted in January 1959, ultimately liberating the Congo from Belgian colonial rule and winning democratic elections. By introducing important historical figures on its website and providing guided evaluations, the CPP plays a positive role in strengthening the Party's ideological education and broadening the historical perspective of its members.
On May 10, 2021, the CPP website published a short commentary titled "The Disintegration of the Soviet Union Violated the Will of Its Citizens." It pointed out that thirty years ago, the Soviet people clearly expressed their desire to preserve the socialist system. However, some bureaucrats within the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU), including Mikhail Gorbachev and leaders of several Union Republics, contravened the will of the Soviet people and restored capitalism from the top down. By reviewing and evaluating the major historical event of the Soviet collapse, the CPP expressed its clear position on the causes of the disintegration. Currently, the CPP is still in the stage of fighting for its legal status; under limited modes of activity, its efforts to carry out work, remember history, and remain firm in its convictions have greatly encouraged the fighting spirit of communist parties throughout Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).
On May 28, 2021, the official website of the Hungarian Workers' Party published a vivid news report accompanied by photos: On May 27, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of its founding, the Communist Party of China (CPC) hosted the International Seminar of Marxist Political Parties. Representatives from dozens of countries, including Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, and Russia, participated via video link. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, sent a congratulatory letter to the meeting. Representatives of the Hungarian Workers' Party also attended the event. The article commented that the increasing danger of war and the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic indicate that the current capitalist world is in a severe crisis, and the future world needs a society that is not driven by money. The timely publication of news regarding foreign communist parties on the Party's website, along with the emphasis on the objective orientation of applying and developing Marxism under new circumstances, provides fresh and engaging content that has attracted attention both at home and abroad.
Strengthening international ties and demonstrating the collective strength of the world's communist and workers' parties is also a key component of the activities of various parties in Central and Eastern Europe. Between 1998 and 2019, twenty-one sessions of the International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties (IMCWP) were held (the meetings were suspended after 2020 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic). Relevant parties from the CEE region actively participated in all meetings. The joint declarations issued by these meetings have become an important means for CEE communist and workers' parties to make their voices heard, express their positions, demonstrate their influence, and boost morale.
On March 30, 2020, the IMCWP issued a joint statement on the global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic titled "Immediate Measures to Protect the Health and Rights of the People." The statement paid tribute to the countries most severely affected and those acting in solidarity. It noted that countries such as China, Cuba, and Russia provided medical protective resources and dispatched health professionals to support countries hard-hit by the pandemic, actions that stood in sharp contrast to the absence of the European Union. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the anti-social and parasitic nature of capitalism, highlighting the superiority, scientific nature, and timeliness of socialist central planning based on the needs of the masses. Socialism can ensure basic healthcare for the people, enabling hospitals, medical staff, medicine, laboratories, and physical examinations to meet both daily and emergency basic needs. The joint statement analyzed and revealed the relative merits of the two social systems in responding to a global public health crisis. By clarifying their position and attitude, it helped to coalesce and unify the thinking of the world's communist and workers' parties and bolstered the confidence of CEE parties to unite and overcome the pandemic.
On September 29, 2020, in response to the actions of certain countries spreading claims that the novel coronavirus originated from laboratory leaks and politicizing the issue of virus tracing, communist and workers' parties from various countries took a Tit-for-Tat [5] stance, issuing a joint statement titled "Against the Proliferation of Biological Weapons and for the Closure of U.S. Military Biological Laboratories Around the World." The statement pointed out that under the leadership of the Pentagon, 1,495 laboratories have been established worldwide; these laboratories are not accountable to the governments of the countries where they are located, nor is their activity transparent. This has drawn the concern of people worldwide, and communist and workers' parties resolutely oppose these anti-human actions.
Parties such as the Communist Party of Albania, the Party of Bulgarian Communists, the Socialist Workers' Party of Croatia, the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSČM), the Hungarian Workers' Party, the Socialist Party of Latvia, the Communist Party of Macedonia, the Communist Party of Poland, the Romanian Socialist Party, the New Communist Party of Yugoslavia, the Communist Party of Serbia, the Communist Party of Slovakia, and the Union of Communists in Bulgaria jointly signed and released various joint statements mentioned above. Some parties also took the lead in issuing statements on specific hot-button issues, which were promptly published on their official websites.
Furthermore, communist parties in Central and Eastern European countries actively strengthen regional ties and cooperation. For example, some CEE communist parties participate in the "Initiative of Communist and Workers' Parties" (the Initiative), led by the Communist Party of Greece and established in October 2013. On May 10, 2020, the "Initiative" held a video conference themed "The Pandemic and the New Crisis of Capitalism." Representatives exchanged information on the capitalist crises triggered by COVID-19 and shared the characteristics and experiences of class struggle in their respective countries under current conditions. Participants emphasized that the pandemic has exposed major flaws in the public health sectors of capitalist countries, concluding that the most dangerous virus to the planet is capitalism. The "Initiative" holds irregular forums and maintains a strong dynamic presence, allowing for the timely exchange of views on major issues. This serves a cohesive function for CEE communist parties, particularly for those that are weaker or smaller.
Participation in various international meetings and organizations is a necessary avenue and choice for communist parties in CEE during a period when world socialism is in a low ebb. Several small and weak parties gain strength and confidence through active participation in international meetings. Since most communist parties in the region have failed to enter parliament, their energy is primarily focused on advocating for marginalized groups and organizing labor unions and workers' movements. In the future, striving for legal status, entering parliament, and further expanding influence through various legal channels are the primary tasks of these parties, as well as the difficult and tortuous path they must take for development.
IV. The Arduous Task of Defending the History of World Socialism and Opposing Hegemonism
The practice of historical nihilism [6] toward the history of 20th-century world socialism has been one of the important tools employed by the West in the continuous ideological struggle since the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the drastic changes in Eastern Europe [7]. In an unfavorable situation, communist and workers' parties must strive to speak out and reveal the truth to restore the original face of history as much as possible. Currently, communist parties face the arduous task of defending the history of 20th-century socialism and are resolutely struggling against anti-communist distortions of socialist history, as well as the vilification of their own nations' socialist construction and communist leaders. Although the parties' strength is small, their brave voicing of positions and adherence to principle are highlights of the world socialist movement in the 21st century.
In 2019, Gustav Husák, the former President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, placed in the top ten of the "Greatest Slovak" public poll organized by official Slovak institutions. On February 21, 2021, Slovak public television engaged in historical nihilism regarding the history of the Czechoslovak socialist revolution and construction, introducing Husák as a negative figure for the state and nation. This move provoked strong opposition from the Communist Party of Slovakia, whose theoretical workers immediately published an article titled "The Serious Distortion of History Continues" to refute it. The article exposed how the Slovak television station intentionally broadcasted visual material that completely contradicted historical facts, portraying Husák as a selfish, cruel, immoral man who craved power—a leader of a "criminal" organization (the Communist Party). It further slandered Husák by claiming he prepared a "speculative" statement on his deathbed to receive the last anointing and absolution from Archbishop Jan Sokol. This was a pure lie, which Husák's relatives have clarified multiple times. The article also pointed out that Husák was one of the main organizers of the Slovak anti-fascist movement and the Slovak National Uprising. During World War II, Slovakia's place among the victors in the anti-fascist struggle had a decisive impact on the future of the Slovak nation. The Husák era was not flawless, but with his superior intelligence and lifelong actions, Husák risked his life to maintain, defend, and develop the country during the difficult Cold War. Husák stood out among many important historical figures, and his legendary contribution to the national liberation struggle won the hearts of the people. Husák was a loyal supporter of communist and socialist ideas; even after the coup of November 1989, he remained committed to his beliefs and the realization of socialism. Using historical facts as evidence, the article clearly and powerfully refuted historical nihilism, restored the reputation of the Party leader, and is of great practical significance in helping the Slovak public, especially the youth, understand historical truth.
On December 4, 2019, on the 70th anniversary of the founding of NATO, the New Communist Party of Yugoslavia issued a statement titled "NATO is the Enemy of Peace and Progress." It revealed that since its founding in 1949, NATO has served as one of the headquarters of anti-communism, launching several criminal attacks against communists around the world, including its member states, to prevent the rise of the working class. In recent years, NATO has fully displayed its killing role in imperialist wars in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Libya, and has intervened in Africa and other regions, expanding military bases to the Balkans and Central and Eastern Europe and establishing infrastructure related to nuclear weapons storage in Europe. This shows that NATO is the enemy of human peace and progress. The Serbian people will never forget the catastrophic consequences of the 1999 NATO bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia: more than 3,000 civilians, including 70 children, were killed by NATO bombs, and more than 10,000 were injured. For a world without NATO, for a world of peace, solidarity, and progress, the struggle against imperialism must be strengthened, as must the struggle against the EU, NATO, and all imperialist alliances, to end the system that breeds war, crisis, refugees, and exploitation. The statement of the New Communist Party of Yugoslavia expressed the aspirations of people who have suffered deeply from hegemonism.
On November 5, 2020, the KSČM issued a statement strongly opposing a declaration signed by the foreign ministers of the United States, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia regarding the 75th anniversary of "Victory in Europe Day" in World War II. The KSČM pointed out that while the declaration paid tribute to all victims of the war and all soldiers who fought against Nazi Germany and contributed to ending the Holocaust, it equated the period of Nazi occupation with the so-called period of "Soviet enslavement" and the period after 1945. The KSČM stated that it resolutely rejected this politically motivated, highly biased, and pro-American statement, rejected the equating of the Soviet Union with Nazi Germany, and rejected the rewriting of history. The KSČM demanded that the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs explain why it co-signed this degrading statement and immediately withdraw it.
Erasing the historical role of people's revolutions led by communist parties in the 20th-century anti-fascist wars and national liberation movements, and demonizing communist leaders, are common manifestations of Western historical nihilism. Discrediting and blackening socialist history through legal means is a new manifestation of the activities of Western anti-communist forces. Defending the history of 20th-century world socialism and adhering to socialist ideals and goals is an important, arduous, and long-term task for communist parties in the CEE region.
V. Focusing on New Progress in 21st-Century World Socialism
The attention paid by communist and workers' parties in Central and Eastern Europe to new progress in 21st-century world socialism presents a dual focus on history and reality. They both respect and continue the history of socialist revolution and construction while focusing on contemporary socialist theory and practice in the 21st century—giving particularly close attention to the development of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
On October 30, 2020, the CPP website published news of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee. Under the title "The Main Meeting of the CPC Formulated a Fifteen-Year Roadmap for China's Modernization," it emphasized that the CPC had pointed the way for China's development over the next fifteen years, guiding China toward modernization. The official websites of other communist parties also published relevant news reports at the earliest opportunity.
The Hungarian Workers' Party closely followed the 2021 "Two Sessions" [8] in China. The party's website featured a large photograph of the sessions convened at the Great Hall of the People, accompanied by an explanatory text: "China announced at this year's national meetings that its GDP growth rate for 2020 was 2.3%. This means that by the end of 2020, the Chinese economy had already emerged from the severe downturn experienced since the spring. In contrast, the US GDP growth rate was -3.5%, Germany -5%, and France -9%." By contrasting China with Western economies, the article affirmed China's major achievements in fighting the pandemic and recovering its economy.
Another report on the Hungarian Workers' Party's official website noted the Chinese government's announcement that by 2020, China had built 718,000 5G communication base stations, with 5G network coverage planned nationwide within five years. According to Swedish surveys, 5G availability in Western Europe will reach 55% over the next five years, while Eastern Europe will reach 27%. China is gaining a massive advantage in 5G. In the New Era, socialism with Chinese characteristics demonstrates the superiority of its social system through practical results, encouraging communists worldwide.
Aleksander Paunov, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Bulgaria, has visited China four times. He refers to the rapid and dramatic changes occurring in China as the "Chinese miracle," believing that the Chinese path is a unique model for development suited to China, discovered by the Communist Party of China (CPC) within a dynamically changing world. "A country's greatest wealth is its people." It is precisely because the CPC always keeps the people in its heart that the Chinese people can be efficiently united to move toward a single goal and effectively control the pandemic. Paunov admires the CPC's ability to implement every achievement in a planned, indomitable, and sincere manner. He believes that the concept of a community with a shared future for humanity proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping creates an original idea for the coexistence of different nations, states, and civilizations, bringing hope to the world. Building a community with a shared future for humanity while maintaining diversity and unity is an arduous and complex task that requires a high sense of political responsibility. Communist parties of all countries should earnestly study and research this, promote international multilateral cooperation, share good practices, and systematically transform these valuable experiences into political decisions. Paunov’s deep conclusions, drawn from his experiences as a primary witness during multiple inspections in China, will also strengthen the Communist Party of Bulgaria’s confidence in socialism.
Aleksandar Banjanac, General Secretary of the New Communist Party of Yugoslavia (NKPJ), spoke regarding the difficult process of fighting the pandemic in his own country, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected Serbian society and the economy, revealing all the injustices and depressing situations faced by contemporary society. Had there been no help from China at the start of the pandemic, the result would have been catastrophic. In April 2021, the NKPJ and the Union of Communist Youth of Yugoslavia (SKOJ) proposed erecting a bust of Chinese President Xi Jinping in Belgrade’s Friendship Park. This solemn gesture was intended to pay high tribute to the Chinese people and their leader, thanking China for its immense help and contribution to Serbia’s fight against the pandemic. The NKPJ stated that since the outbreak began, this friendly nation has stood with Serbia, providing medical aid on multiple occasions and supplying the largest quantity of vaccines. 2021 marked the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC; the Serbian people regard President Xi Jinping and the CPC as sincere friends and celebrated the CPC’s centenary in this manner. On May 18, 2021, as part of a publicity campaign, large color portraits of Xi Jinping were hung in many locations across the streets of Belgrade.
Based on the traditional friendship between the two countries, China’s selfless aid to Serbia, and a shared hatred of hegemony, the NKPJ expressed a Sino-Serbian friendship that transcends time, history, and the future by erecting a bust of Chinese President Xi Jinping in their country. This expressed their heartfelt wishes for the CPC’s centenary, their sincere gratitude to the Chinese people, and their respect and esteem for President Xi Jinping. From a broader perspective, this is also a new manifestation of the continuous growth of world socialist forces in the 21st century.
VI. Main Challenges and Future Trends
Currently, the communist and workers' parties in the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region are still in the process of striving for survival, seeking development, and attempting to expand their domestic and international influence. They are combining current objectives with long-term tasks and seeking to participate in government and political affairs through legal channels. In an unfavorable objective environment, the road to revitalizing socialism for these parties is long and arduous; they must overcome various current difficulties and challenges.
First, having lost their status as ruling parties, these communist parties face myriad difficulties in carrying out their work; their voices are weak, and their political influence is limited. Almost all communist parties in CEE countries consider themselves the historical successors of century-old communist parties, fully affirming the important influence and role of the party’s hundred-year history on the development of the nation and the people. These parties strive to carry out work, awaken the masses, speak for disadvantaged groups, and expose the inherent contradictions and ills of capitalism. They adhere to the mass-based and practical nature of Marxist parties, analyzing problems from a Marxist standpoint, viewpoint, and method to pursue social fairness and justice. However, as opposition parties—especially those carrying a heavy historical legacy—how to overcome the limitations and constraints of the current situation and break through multiple developmental bottlenecks in both history and reality remains a major difficulty.
Second, their primary modes of activity are singular and limited. Although the communist parties in this region have chosen to move toward socialism through peaceful means according to changes in the situation, they face numerous difficulties on the parliamentary road. Most communist and workers' parties in CEE have not entered parliament, and some are still striving for legal status. With a few exceptions, the influence of those communist parties that have entered parliament is limited. For these parties to grow, strengthen, and obtain political power, how to break through narrow channel selections, expand their mass and social bases, and increase competitiveness in parliamentary elections represents a major challenge for their development.
Third, the environment for survival is complex, and developmental conditions will be restricted and constrained over the long term. The CEE region occupies an important geopolitical position where various ideological trends and viewpoints converge and permeate. The eight former socialist countries of Eastern Europe were once the front lines of Western "peaceful evolution" [9] against socialism; long-term Western ideological infiltration accumulated into the situation that led to the Eastern European Upheaval [10]. Currently, having to engage in a long-term struggle against various non-Marxist ideological trends is an unavoidable practical task for the communist parties in this region.
Fourth, the frequent changing of party names indicates a lack of the basic conditions for unified, united, and stable development. Before the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Eastern European Upheaval, the names of the various parties in CEE were not identical—including Communist Parties, Workers' Parties, and Labour Parties. Party organizations rebuilt or restored after the upheaval have also changed their names multiple times. A change in a party's name implies an evolution in the party's nature, core viewpoints, and political meaning. Some changes are expedients to obtain legal registration under unfavorable domestic and international backgrounds. Others are caused by ideological disunity within the party, differences in evaluating major events in the history of world socialism, or intensified contradictions within the party leadership. Simultaneously, as party organizations differentiate and split, the overall strength of the party is weakened; some parties have even dissolved or reorganized as a result, causing severe damage to organizational structures and immense losses. These parties need stable development; only by "proceeding steadily can one go far" [11].
Fifth, adapting to the changes, development, and trends of the times, responding promptly to the new demands and aspirations of the masses, and consolidating and expanding social and mass bases are fundamental tasks that communist parties in the region must face. These are also epochal tasks requiring breakthroughs and innovation. Under new conditions, these parties are exploring new ways to maintain close ties with the masses. For example, Stanislav Grospič, Vice-Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia, believes that during periods of great social transformation, communist parties undoubtedly need to understand the thoughts and needs of the masses better. They must also consider what is needed to enable the masses to master effective methods and modes of struggle under new era conditions, becoming the vanguard of the country's democratic forces. For party leaders, possessing a high theoretical level, revolutionary determination, and courage, emphasizing the close link between the party and the people, and being adept at learning from historical experience are all necessary and essential.
Sixth, based on the present, look toward the future. For instance, the Chairman of the Academic Committee of the Czech Institute of Left Studies believes it is very important to emphasize the development and growth of the younger generation, focusing on and nurturing them with a clear and understandable social vision. All political parties and activities need to continuously educate young members and supporters, transferring experience at the levels of party work and state administration to promote the survival and development of socialist ideals under new circumstances.
(About the Author: Li Ruiqin is a Researcher at the Institute of Marxism Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)