Which first world countries came close to Socialism?

[howblackisyourflag]

I was reading on Wiki that during the 70s in Italy, the Italian Communist Party: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Communist_Party was getting over 1/3 of the vote.

Were there many other well off countries who had that kind of support for communist parties and could have been close to revolution?

[ComradeOm]

No contest - Germany 1918-'19. An actual socialist revolution was ultimately crushed by a combination of the traitorous SPD and the reactionary Freikorps. Its success would have had unimaginable ramifications for Europe. Nothing in the post-war period (save perhaps France '44) comes close to this

[RadioRaheem84]

What about Spain?

[ContrarianLemming]

I was reading on Wiki that during the 70s in Italy, the Italian Communist Party: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Communist_Party was getting over 1/3 of the vote.

Were there many other well off countries who had that kind of support for communist parties and could have been close to revolution?

Italy was doing good bad in the red brigade days yes, I can't really think of many

keep in mind that Spain 1936, russia 1917, italy 1920 etc etc weren't really first world nations, not if we use todays standards.

[Os Cangaceiros]

No contest - Germany 1918-'19. An actual socialist revolution was ultimately crushed by a combination of the traitorous SPD and the reactionary Freikorps. Its success would have had unimaginable ramifications for Europe. Nothing in the post-war period (save perhaps France '44) comes close to this

I actually agree with this, for the most part. The German Revolution was a pretty remarkable event that seems to be brushed over in a lot of history classes (the first time I really came in contact with it was in German History class in college...I think that the political landscape would've been vastly different had the revolutionary movement succeeded.)

[Tavarisch_Mike]

East Germanie (DDR).

[RadioRaheem84]

Didn't even bother to think of that one, Mike! Good one.

[scarletghoul]

East Germany ? (edit, ninjad :angry: )


What about Spain?Does Spain count as first world ?? What about Greece ?? They both came close but I don't think they fit in any 3 world definition system..

Anyway yeah France in 40s.. Paris 68 was good too and could have eventually led to a revolution if the Party had been genuinely revolutionary, but it was not as close as some people make it out to be.

Umm really theres a few others but it depends on what you mean by first world and what you mean by 'close to socialism'. A Communist Party having a third of the votes is not really close to socialism if they are completely revisionist and unwilling to lead a revolution