Dr David Childs - The Two Red Flags: European Social Democracy and Soviet Communism since 1945

The Two Red Flags is an incisive account of the impact of Socialism on the life and politics of Europe and the former Soviet bloc in the twentieth century. Ranging from Britain and Germany to Italy and Russia, this book covers the origins of Socialism and Communism and their various offshoots in those countries where they had most impact.

The Two Red Flags is an exciting and concise history which provides the reader with a real understanding of the forces at work, and the people who were involvedthe roles and personalities of Stalin, Khrushchev, Reagan, Mitterrand, Brandt, Honecker, Wilson and Blair are all considered. Topics discussed include:

• Origins of Socialism, pre-1939
• War and resistance, 193945
• Social Democracy and West European recovery, 194558
• The Cold War and the Stalinist model, 194561
• Democratic Socialists, Communists and the New Left, 195668
• The climax of European Social Democracy? 196982
• Gorbachev and the collapse of the Soviet Empire, 198992
• The resurgence of Social Democracy in the 1990s.

David Childs is Emeritus Professor of Politics at the University of Nottingham and author of Britain since 1945 (1997).

The Two Red Flags

European Social Democracy
and Soviet Communism since
1945

David Childs

First published 2000
by Routledge
11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE

This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2002.

Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge Inc
29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001

2000 David Childs

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Childs, David, 1933
The Two Red Flags: european social democracy and soviet communism since 1945/David Childs.
Includes bibliographical references.
1. EuropeHistory1945 2. SocialismEuropeHistory20th century.
3. CommunismSoviet UnionHistory20th century.
I. Title.
D421.C483 2000
320.53'094'09045dc21 9940178
CIP

ISBN 0-415-22195-1 (hbk)
ISBN 0-415-17181-4 (pbk)
ISBN 0-203-05825-9 Master e-book ISBN
ISBN 0-203-16097-5 (Glassbook Format)
eISBN: 978-1-13469-415-0