Book Synopsis

The first comprehensive political history of the communist party

Vanguard of the Revolution is a sweeping history of one of the most significant political institutions of the modern world. The communist party was a revolutionary idea long before its supporters came to power. A. James McAdams argues that the rise and fall of communism can be understood only by taking into account the origins and evolution of this compelling idea. He shows how the leaders of parties in countries as diverse as the Soviet Union, China, Germany, Yugoslavia, Cuba, and North Korea adapted the original ideas of revolutionaries like Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin to profoundly different social and cultural settings. Vanguard of the Revolution is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand world communism and the captivating idea that gave it life.

From the Back Cover

"This is a very welcome and engaging book that traces the history of the communist party from Karl Marx to the lowering of the red flag over the Kremlin in 1991. McAdams knows his stuff and is an excellent analyst."--Norman M. Naimark, author of Stalin's Genocides

"Beautifully written, convincingly argued, and absolutely stunning in its historical sweep. McAdams has produced a volume that will be savored by a very wide readership in the years ahead."--Jeffrey Kopstein, author of The Politics of Economic Decline in East Germany, 1945-1989

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