Communism’s New Believers Have Forgotten Its Old Crimes
Pronounced dead and discredited after the collapse of the Soviet Union, it is back. Former Senate candidate Graham Platner and influencer Hasan Piker did not lose, and probably gained, adherents by having called themselves communists. Meanwhile, as Stu Smith recently wrote in The Free Press, a majority of the Democratic Socialists of America governing board “openly identifies with communist ideology.”As a Russian specialist, I cannot help wondering: How is this possible?
- ▪Pronounced dead and discredited after the collapse of the Soviet Union, it is back.
- ▪Former Senate candidate Graham Platner and influencer Hasan Piker did not lose, and probably gained, adherents by having called themselves communists.
- ▪Meanwhile, as Stu Smith recently wrote in The Free Press, a majority of the Democratic Socialists of America governing board “openly identifies with communist ideology.”As a Russian specialist, I cannot help wondering: How is this possible?
The Free Press files mainly under politics. We currently carry 143 of its stories.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Communism’s New Believers Have Forgotten Its Old CrimesGary Saul Morson writes about the Cold War classic that explained communism’s seductive pull on intellectuals, and why its warnings matter again now. (Universal History Archive/Getty Images)A forgotten Cold War masterpiece reveals why intelligent people once embraced a murderous ideology—and why its appeal has not disappeared.By Gary Saul Morson07.24.26 — Things Worth Remembering--:----:--Upgrade to ListenProduced by ElevenLabs using AI narration1READ IN APPREAD IN APPWelcome to Things Worth Remembering, our weekly column in which writers share a literary treasure that all of us should commit to heart.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Free Press.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from The Free Press
