Russia's Communists At The Crossroads - Tapa dura

Less than five years after President Boris Yeltsins ban on communist activity in Russia, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) rose from the debris of the former Communist Party of the Soviet Union to win over one-third of the seats in the lower house of parliament in December 1995 and to challenge Yeltsin for the presidency itself in mid-1996. This groundbreaking study analyzes the CPRFs evolution as it sought to reshape its program and practice to fit the realities of post-Soviet Russia while also battling the more orthodox Marxist-Leninist groups on its left. The authors examine the CPRFs origins, internal factions, and electoral strategy during the parliamentary and presidential contests of 1995 and 1996. They address in particular the nationalist thinking of CPRF chairman Gennadii A. Ziuganov as well as the political profile of leadership and official program that were endorsed at the Third CPRF Congress in January 1995. The CPRFs alternative strategic choices and prospects in the aftermath of the critical 19951996 electoral season are also assessed. }Less than five years after President Boris Yeltsins ban on communist activity in Russia, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) rose from the debris of the former Communist Party of the Soviet Union to win over one-third of the seats in the lower house of parliament in December 1995 and to challenge Yeltsin for the presidency itself in mid-1996. This groundbreaking study analyzes the CPRFs evolution as it sought to reshape its program and practice to fit the realities of post-Soviet Russia while also battling the more orthodox Marxist-Leninist groups on its left. The authors examine the CPRFs origins, internal factions, and electoral strategy during the parliamentary and presidential contests of 1995 and 1996. They address in particular the nationalist thinking of CPRF chairman Gennadii A. Ziuganov as well as the political profile of leadership and official program that were endorsed at the Third CPRF Congress in January 1995. The CPRFs alternative strategic choices and prospects in the aftermath of the critical 19951996 electoral season are also assessed. }

Joan Barth Urban is professor of politics at the Catholic University of America. Valerii D. Solovei is senior researcher at the Gorbachev Foundation in Moscow. Joan Barth Urban is professor of politics at the Catholic University of America. Valerii D. Solovei is senior researcher at the Gorbachev Foundation in Moscow.