Crypto-communism (or cryptocommunism) is a secret support for, or admiration of, communism. Individuals and groups have been labelled as crypto-communists, often as a result of being associated with, or influenced by communists.[1] Crypto-communism among political leaders aided the sovietization of the Baltic states.[2]

Historical use of the term

In 1947, Winston Churchill described a crypto-communist as, "one who has not the moral courage to explain the destination for which he is making".[3] In 1949, shortly before his death, George Orwell compiled a list for the Information Research Department of the British Foreign Office of thirty-eight journalists and writers who in his opinion were crypto-communists or fellow travellers.[4][5][6]

In 1960, Bruce Hutchison described what he viewed as a crypto-communist threat from the left wing of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan under Nobusuke Kishi.[7] In West Germany, some accused the Social Democratic Party under the leadership of Willy Brandt of being a crypto-communist front.[8]

The Black Book of Communism referred to some individuals as crypto-communist, namely Damyan Velchev and Ludvík Svoboda.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Christian Gerlach; Clemens Six, eds. (2020). The Palgrave Handbook of Anti-Communist Persecutions. Springer International Publishing. p. 9. ISBN 9783030549633.
  2. ↑ Shtromas, Alexander (2003). Totalitarianism and the Prospects for World Order, Closing the Door on the Twentieth Century. Lexington Books. pp. 257–258. ISBN 9780739105344.
  3. ↑ "Crypto-Communist Charges By Mr. Churchill". The Sydney Morning Herald. 19 April 1947. p. 3. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  4. ↑ Garton Ash, Timothy (25 September 2003). "Orwell's List". The New York Review of Books. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  5. ↑ Celia Kirwan (21 June 2003). "Blair's babe, Did love turn Orwell into a government stooge?". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  6. ↑ Defty, Andrew (2004-03-01). Britain, America and Anti-Communist Propaganda 1945-53: The Information Research Department. Routledge. p. 3. ISBN 978-1-135-76014-4.
  7. ↑ Hutchinson, Bruce (27 February 1960). "Can we keep the Japanese on our side?". Maclean's. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  8. ↑ Times, Craig R. Whitney; Special to The New York (1974-03-10). "A Postage Stamp Raises West German Tempers". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-09-03.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ↑ Albert, G. Peter; Courtois, Stéphane; Werth, Nicolas; Paczkowski, Andrzej; Panne, Jean-Louis; Bartosek, Karel; Margolin, Jean-Louis (1999). The Black Book of Communism: Crimes, Terror, Repression. Harvard University Press. p. 398. ISBN 978-0-674-07608-2.
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