Like all political ideologies, communism promises a lot of things: progress, equality, and a generalized idea of "fairness" in which everyone will get what they need. And like all political ideologies, communism delivers on its utopian promises intermittently at best, more frequently delivering to those living under communist governments shortages, tyranny, and vast expanses of gray cement. In the century since the Russian Revolution brought about the first true, large-scale experiment in communist governance, far-left governments have popped up around the world and, in the worst scenarios, proven themselves every bit as capable of brutality as their right-wing ideological enemies. The words were different, but not the tune.

In their struggles to gain and keep power and their attempts to

See Full Page