Countries with a Communist Past
Communism brings a colorful history, having left its mark on a bunch of countries around the world. This bit looks at how communism popped up like wildflowers between 1940 and 1979 and highlights those countries that stepped in, and then out, of its shadow.
Communist Surge (1940-1979)
Between 1940 and 1979, communism either elbowed its way in or was warmly welcomed in a truckload of nations. These places went through some big changes politically, socially, and economically under the red flag. Here’s a list for the curious, all thanks to History.com:
| Country | Year it Kicked In |
|---|---|
| Estonia | 1940 |
| Latvia | 1940 |
| Lithuania | 1940 |
| Yugoslavia | 1945 |
| Poland | 1947 |
| North Korea | 1948 |
| Albania | 1946 |
| Bulgaria | 1946 |
| Romania | 1947 |
| Czechoslovakia | 1948 |
| East Germany | 1949 |
| Hungary | 1947 |
| China | 1949 |
| Tibet | 1950 |
| North Vietnam | 1954 |
| Guinea | 1958 |
| Cuba | 1959 |
| Yemen | 1967 |
| Sudan | 1969 |
| Congo | 1969 |
| Burma | 1962 |
| Angola | 1975 |
| Benin | 1975 |
| Cape Verde | 1975 |
| Laos | 1975 |
| Kampuchea | 1975 |
| Madagascar | 1975 |
| Mozambique | 1975 |
| South Vietnam | 1975 |
| Somalia | 1969 |
| Seychelles | 1977 |
| Afghanistan | 1978 |
| Grenada | 1979 |
| Nicaragua | 1979 |
Changing Gears in Communist Countries
Through the decades, some countries decided to ease up on their strict communist vibes, sliding into different degrees of socialism or tossing in some capitalism. It’s led to fresh ways of running the show.
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China: Oh, China! Once a hardcore fan of Marx and Lenin, it’s like it’s gone to a fancy buffet—picking market reforms but keeping a tight grip on its politics. Dive deeper into its story over at China: A Transitional Stage.
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North Korea: You think you know rigid? North Korea’s been going solo with its Juche idea since 1992, and even chucked the communist stuff out the window in 2009, only to bring it back a smidge in 2021 (Wikipedia).
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Venezuela: With Nicolás Maduro at the wheel, the country’s embraced the far-left ways of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (Wikipedia).
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Sri Lanka: Fast forward to 2024, and bam, they picked Anura Kumara Dissanayake from the Marxist-Leninist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) as the head honcho—a turn left if there ever was one.
To see who’s still waving the red flag, check out Current Communist Countries. For the scoop on how these countries’ economies have changed over the years, roll on over to Economic Outlook of Communist Countries.
Current Communist Countries
Nowadays, just five countries still wave the flag of communism: China, North Korea, Laos, Cuba, and Vietnam. These places are often thought to be somewhere between capitalism’s tail end and a full-fledged communist future.
China: Holding the Line
Kicking off its communist groove back in 1949 with Mao Zedong, China’s stuck to its guns since then. But let’s be real, times have changed, and you can see the wealth gap today. The Chinese Communist Party still runs the show, though they did throw a curveball in 2004 by recognizing private property, which was a bit of a headscratcher given classic communist views (ThoughtCo).
North Korea’s Switcheroo
North Korea kicked things off with Marxism-Leninism, but in 1992, they did a 180, swapping to the Juche idea. It’s a mixed bag that blends with Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism principles. They’ve scrubbed some communist stuff from their rulebook, but the Workers’ Party of Korea, as of 2021, is still about that communist life (Wikipedia).
Laos’s New Groove
Laos is one of those countries that’s kept its communist card. The Lao People’s Revolutionary Party calls the shots there, but they’ve been mixing things up with market-friendly moves. It’s a blend—like a financial smoothie of socialist and capitalist tastes.
Cuba: Post-Revolution Style
Cuba caught the communist bug in 1965 after Fidel Castro took charge. When the Soviet Union bit the dust in ’91, Cuba had to hustle for new buddies and bankrollers like China, Bolivia, and Venezuela to keep their economy running (ThoughtCo).
Vietnam: Finding Its Feet
In 1976, after a couple of decades of war, Vietnam united under communism. Just like its communist buddies, it’s leaned towards a market economy, picking up a few capitalist tricks while clinging to socialist beliefs (ThoughtCo).
Check out more about nations and their situations with our lists of African countries, developed countries, and those tagged as third world countries. For a deeper dive into the money and politics scene, you might wanna peek at our articles on the list of countries by GDP and Commonwealth countries.
Changing Dynamics of Communism
The tale of nations sticking to communist and far-left ideas has seen quite a shift over the years. Here, we’ll take a closer look at places like Venezuela and Sri Lanka and chat about communism’s big picture and its dips around the globe.
Venezuela’s Political Scene
Venezuela’s currently led by Nicolás Maduro and his United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). These folks are big on their Marxist-Leninist roots, trying to navigate through a rollercoaster political scene.
Labelled as a communist country, Venezuela’s mix of political and economic bumps and bruises make folks question how long they can keep it up. Mad policies like taking over industries and spreading the wealth have had their hits and misses, sparking arguments within and outside the countries. What’s going down in Venezuela is a snapshot of the hurdles that socialist countries are facing today.
Communism in Sri Lanka
In a twist of events, Sri Lanka grabbed some attention in 2024 when Anura Kumara Dissanayake from the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) snagged the presidency. This Marxist-Leninist party’s arrival was a big bingo in the country’s political saga (Wikipedia).
Their political voice rises to tackle things like money gaps and corruption head-on with that socialist flair. Though many parts of the world lean toward capitalism and democratic socialism, the JVP’s power play shows a comeback of communist vibes in certain areas. For more insights on these political swings in different lands, check out our political systems around the world.
The Fade of Communism
Globally, the heyday of communism in the mid-1900s is a faded memory. While some places still wave the red flag, many have drifted away. Economic mix-ups, autocratic lead-ups, and tight leashes on freedom are a few reasons it’s losing its glow (Britannica).
Countries with a communist past are switching gears to market economies, all while sticking with a one-party gig. Places like China and Vietnam are weaving capitalist threads with their political webs to keep that economic engine roaring.
Table: Transitional Communist Countries
| Country | Current Leader | Economic System | Political Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venezuela | Nicolás Maduro | Socialist / Command economy | United Socialist Party of Venezuela |
| Sri Lanka | Anura Kumara Dissanayake | Mixed Economy | Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna |
For a bigger picture on how different countries tackle their economic and political puzzles, peep our list of developing countries and list of developed countries. It’ll give a window into how countries are steering through their economic ups and downs.
The shake-up of communism shows how ever-changing political and economic stories can be. Some still hold onto Marxist tales, but many are tweaking their plays, mixing in capitalism and more democratic methods to brave the new challenges.
Economic Outlook of Communist Countries
Shift to Market Economies
Back in the day, communist countries used to call all the shots when it came to property, wages, prices, and setting those oh-so-important production goals. But times change, and so does the game plan. Ever since the Soviet Union said its goodbyes in 1991, the few remaining card-carrying communist nations (except for our friends in North Korea) decided it was time to shake things up with a nod toward market-style reforms. They’re all about bringing a bit more competition to the table while keeping their one-party control nice and snug.
China’s taking the spotlight here with its snazzy “Socialism with Chinese Characteristics,” blending a market economy with a firm grip on strategic sectors. Not to be outdone, Vietnam and Laos have launched their own brand of economic coolness, known as Đổi Mới and the New Economic Mechanism. This has given their economies a noticeable spring in their step. As for Cuba, it’s joining the reform train, just at a more leisurely pace.
| Country | Economic Switch | Main Reform Moves |
|---|---|---|
| China | Market Vibes | Socialism with Chinese Flair |
| Vietnam | Market Vibes | Đổi Mới (Renovation) |
| Laos | Market Vibes | New Economic Dynamics |
| Cuba | Slow-Mo Change | Economic Shake-Ups |
Economic Support and Approval
So, how do folks feel about these economic tweaks? According to a Pew Research survey, most countries that switched from strict communism to markets are giving it a thumbs-up. Russia’s got a different tune going on, with just 38% loving the new groove while 51% shake their heads in disapproval. But hey, in most places, acceptance is growing, even if it takes a while—Russia excluded.
In many corners of the world, the word on the street is that life under a shiny new economic model is better than it was back in the strict communist days. Just ask the folks in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Lithuania, where majorities feel the change is working in their favor.
| Country | Thumbs-Up for Economic Shift | Thumbs-Down for Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Russia | 38% | 51% |
| Poland | Most People | Few |
| Czech Republic | Most People | Few |
| Lithuania | Most People | Few |
Even though most people are warming up to the economic changes, the political side of things doesn’t always enjoy the same love. The shift of communist nations towards a more market-centric setup remains an ongoing saga full of debate and analysis.
If you’re curious about how other countries are doing with their economic transitions, why not explore the list of countries by economic standing and the list of countries by GDP? For a dash of geopolitical flair, you can also check out the list of NATO countries and the list of BRICS countries.
Public Perception of Communism
Figuring out how folks see communist systems helps us understand how these countries rank in today’s society. By peeking into the aftermath of communist systems, their economic and political changes, and shifting opinions, we get a better feel for what people think about these nations now.
Impact of Communist Systems
Communist systems have shaped countries in ways that stick around, affecting political powers and economic setups.
| Country | Improvement in Belief (%) |
|---|---|
| Poland | 57 |
| Czech Republic | 45 |
| Lithuania | 46 |
| Russia | -8 |
Research from Pew shows that since communism left the stage, more people feel like the average person saw some gain. Back in 2009, about 21% thought so across seven countries, but now it’s 41%. Not bad, huh?
Economic and Political Changes
The roads of economy and politics have taken some sharp turns since communism’s farewell tour. Opinions clash on whether we’re better off economically now, but a lotta folks prefer today’s economic scene over the old-school communist days.
| Country | Improved Economic Conditions (%) |
|---|---|
| Poland | 77 |
| Czech Republic | 62 |
| Lithuania | 59 |
| Russia | 25 |
The voices from the surveys echo that in places like Poland, the Czech Republic, and Lithuania, most people reckon their wallets are fatter since communism packed up. But in Russia, there ain’t so much love for this economic switcheroo.
Changing Views on Communism
Views on communism have danced around quite a bit since 1991. There’s been a noticeable spike in thumbs-up for political and economic shake-ups in lots of countries, though Russia seems to feel different.
| Country | Backing for Changes (%) |
|---|---|
| Poland | 63 |
| Czech Republic | 58 |
| Lithuania | 53 |
| Russia | 20 |
These days, more folks nod approvingly at the political and economic shifts post-communism. Through the years, these changes have gathered fans, with greater acceptance coming through in various countries (Pew Research).
Curious about different political systems and how they’re doing money-wise? Click around on our articles covering the list of African countries, the list of European countries, and the list of developing countries.