Czech Republic: Achievements and Challenges of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia^[*]

Jiang Li¹

[Abstract] Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia is the direct successor to the Komunistická Strana Československo. Founded shortly after the political upheavals of 1989, it is one of the few parties in Central and Eastern Europe to retain the name of the Communist Party and to adhere to Marxism-Leninism. Since its founding, it has maintained the status as a parliamentary party, successfully entering the European Parliament and participating in local public administration after repeatedly breaking through political isolation. In 2018, it even indirectly became part of the state power by supporting the minority government. Its electoral victory is unique among communist and workers’ parties in the CEE region and rare among communist and workers’ parties in the world today. Despite its success, it faces three serious challenges: a declining and aging membership; a massive loss of voters; and possible changes in the leadership and direction of development.

[Key Words] Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia; Overseas community parties; Socialism; Political party system

The Komunistická Strana Československo (Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, hereinafter referred to as “KSČ”) celebrated its 100^th anniversary on May 16, 2021. In 1946, the KSČ won the first free elections in the country since the end of the Second World War. In July 1960, the constitution adopted in Czechoslovakia proclaimed the victory of socialism and established the leadership of the Communist Party in the country. In November 1989, the political upheavals in Czechoslovakia led to the collapse of the communist regime and a serious setback to socialism. Founded in 1990 as a direct successor to the KSČ, the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (hereinafter referred to as “KSČM”) is one of the few parties in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) to retain the name of Communist Party and to adhere to Marxism-Leninism. In the early 1990s, many Czechoslovak politicians and scholars predicted that the Communist Party would either withdraw from the political arena or become marginalized in a political environment of free competition among several parties. However, the historical development of the last 30 years has shown that the KSČM not only has more members and primary organizations than other parties, but it has also maintained the status as a parliamentary party, successfully entering the European Parliament and participating in local public administration after repeatedly breaking through political isolation. In 2018, it even indirectly became part of the state power by supporting the minority government. In recent years, KSČM’s support has declined for a variety of reasons, but its influence on the country’s domestic and foreign policies has increased significantly. Despite its success, it also faces a number of challenges that make its future uncertain.

Please Download for Full Text

* This article is a phased deliverable of “Czech History Research” (18VJX090), a “Less Popular and Profound Learning” research project funded by the National Social Science Fund of China.

1 Jiang Li is a researcher at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies, CASS.